Message routing in a network-ready storage product for internal and external processing

ABSTRACT

A storage product having a network interface and a bus switch connecting a random-access memory, a processing device, and a storage device, and connected via an external computer bus to an external processor. The storage product can receive via the network interface first messages and second messages for network storage services. The bus switch is operable to provide a first bus between the processing device and the random-access memory to buffer the first messages into the random-access memory, a second bus between the processing device and the storage device to buffer the second messages into a local memory of the storage device, and a third bus between the processor and the random-access memory to retrieve the first messages from the random-access memory and generate third messages. The storage device is configured to process the second and third messages to provide network storage services.

TECHNICAL FIELD

At least some embodiments disclosed herein relate to memory systems ingeneral, and more particularly, but not limited to memory systemsconfigured to service data access requests received over computernetworks.

BACKGROUND

A memory sub-system can include one or more memory devices that storedata. The memory devices can be, for example, non-volatile memorydevices and volatile memory devices. In general, a host system canutilize a memory sub-system to store data at the memory devices and toretrieve data from the memory devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings in which like referencesindicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example computing system having a memorysub-system in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 shows different paths for processing control messages and datamessages in a memory sub-system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration of control messages and data messages forprocessing in a memory sub-system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a network-ready storage product configured to have anexternal processor selectively processing messages for the storageproduct according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a technique to configure a storage product to routemessages for processing on different paths according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a storage application mapping messages received from acomputer network into messages to be executed in a storage product toimplement network storage services according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a storage application programmed to implement amessage using multiple messages to a storage product according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a storage application programmed to generate responses fortransmission by a storage product according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a storage product configured with a bus switch to routemessages for internal and external processing according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a storage product having a storage device, a network port,and a bus connector to an external processor according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a storage product configured on a printed circuit boardaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows a method to route messages for processing by a storageproduct and a local host system external to the storage productaccording to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At least some aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a memorysub-system configured with different processing paths for controlmessages and data messages. Examples of storage devices and memorymodules are described below in conjunction with FIG. 1 . In general, ahost system can utilize a memory sub-system that includes one or morecomponents, such as memory devices that store data. The host system canprovide data to be stored at the memory sub-system and can request datato be retrieved from the memory sub-system.

A conventional network-attached storage device is typically configuredas a computing device having a central processing unit (CPU), arandom-access memory, a network interface, and one or more memorydevices to provide a storage capacity accessible over a computernetwork. The CPU is typically configured to run an operating systemand/or a storage application to provide storage services in response tocommunications received in the network interface. Communicationsreceived in the network interface from a remote host system can includecontrol messages and data messages. The messages are generated by theremote host system to manage and/or access the storage capacity of thenetwork-attached storage device. The instructions executed in the CPUcan be programmed to process the control messages and the data messagesas input from the remote host system. In response to the messages, theCPU is configured via the instructions to authenticate users, manageaccess privileges and security settings, authorize access, manage thestorage capacity, store data into the memory devices, retrieve data fromthe memory devices, etc.

For example, the control messages and the data messages received via thenetwork interface of the conventional network-attached storage deviceare buffered in the random-access memory. The CPU is configured to fetchthe messages, process the messages, and send corresponding messages to alocal storage device, such as a solid-state drive. The solid-state drivecan receive messages, execute the commands in the messages to storedata, retrieve data from the memory devices, send retrieved data to theCPU, etc. The CPU can send the retrieved data to the network interfacefor transmission through a computer network to the remote host system.

Thus, in the conventional network-attached storage device, messagesreceived in the network interface, including control messages and datamessages, flow from the network interface through the CPU towards thestorage capacity. Access responses, such as data retrieved in responseto the read requests/commands, flow through the CPU for transmission bythe network interface into the computer network.

However, it is inefficient to flow data messages through the CPU; andthe CPU can be a bottleneck in processing power and communicationbandwidth in scaling up storage capacity.

At least some aspects of the present disclosure address the above andother deficiencies by using different processing paths for controlmessages and data messages.

For example, a computing device providing network storage services canbe configured with a storage device (e.g., a solid-state drive (SSD), aflash memory device, a ball grid array (BGA) SSD), a processing device(e.g., a microprocessor, a CPU), and a network interface connected to aremote host system as a storage client. The storage client (e.g., thenetwork interface receiving messages from the remote host system) canwrite data into the storage device and retrieve data from the storagedevice. The storage client is configured to provide data messages to thestorage device without going through the processing device. Controlmessages, such as administrative commands and management commands, arerouted through the processing device. Instructions executed in theprocessing device are configured/programmed to process the controlmessages to exercise access control, to exercise security control, andto perform administrative operations.

For example, to reduce the burden on the CPU and improve efficiency, thecomputing device can be configured with different processing paths forcertain control messages and other messages.

For example, the control messages on a separate processing path caninclude administrative and management commands used to create anamespace in the storage capacity, to map the namespace to a client, toauthenticate users, to set security attributes (e.g., read onlypermitted vs. both read and write permitted), to provide authorizationto which operation is allowed, to manage configuration changes, etc.Such control messages (e.g., for administrative and managementfunctions) can be configured to flow through the processing device; andthe processing device is configured via programmed instructions and/orother data to process the control message. Instructions executed in theprocessing device can be programmed to perform access control,administrative operations, management operations, etc., withoutoperating on the data to be stored into and/or the data being retrievedfrom the storage device. Other messages, such as data messagescontaining write commands and data to be written into the storage deviceaccording to the write commands, read commands, data retrieved inresponse to the read commands, etc., can be configured to becommunicated between the storage device and the storage client withoutgoing through the processing device.

As a result, the power consumption of the computing device can bereduced; the requirement on the communication bandwidth through theprocessing device (e.g., a microprocessor, a CPU) can be reduced; andthe requirement on the computing power on the processing device can bereduced.

In contrast, a traditional network-attached storage device is configuredto flow data messages through CPU. In typical usages, administrative andmanagement commands are only a small portion of messages, the datamessages can be the majority of the messages going through in thenetwork interface. Thus, the processing of the data messages by the CPUin the traditional network-attached storage device can place a very highweight on the CPU (e.g., lot of commands to process) and therandom-access memory (e.g., lot of data buffering).

When data messages are communicated from a storage client to a storagedevice without going through the processing device (e.g., amicroprocessor, a CPU) of the computing device, according to the presentdisclosure, the processing device is tasked to process a very smallportion of messages (e.g., administrative and management commands, whichare less than 0.1% of total commands). Other messages (e.g., more than99.99% of total commands), including both command parts and data parts,can be routed to the storage device without going through the processingdevice. As a result, a less powerful processing device can be used tocontrol and manage the storage; and the storage capacity can be easilyscaled up by the processing device controlling multiple units, eachcontaining a network interface and one or more local storage devices, asfurther discussed below.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example computing system 100 that includes amemory sub-system 110 in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The memory sub-system 110 can include computer-readablestorage media, such as one or more volatile memory devices (e.g., memorydevice 140), one or more non-volatile memory devices (e.g., memorydevice 130), or a combination of such.

In FIG. 1 , the memory sub-system 110 is configured as a product ofmanufacture, usable as a component installed in a computing device. Thememory sub-system 110 has a network interface 113 controlled by a memorysub-system controller 115 to communicate with a remote host system 121over a computer network 114.

For example, the remote host system 121 can be configured with aprocessing device 128 (e.g., a microprocessor, a CPU), a memorycontroller 126, a network interface 111, and other components (e.g.,random-access memory, sensors, and/or user interfaces). Instructionsexecuted in the processing device 128 can be programmed to use thenetwork interface 111 to access the storage capacity of the memorysub-system 110 using a storage protocol, such as internet small computersystems interface (iSCSI), fibre channel (FC), fibre channel overethernet (FCoE), network file system (NFS), and server message block(SMB), or another protocol.

The memory sub-system 110 further includes a host interface 112 for acomputer memory bus or a computer peripheral bus 125 connectable to alocal host system 120 having a memory controller 116 and a processingdevice 118.

For example, instructions executed in the local host system 120 can beprogrammed to control, through the bus 125, the memory sub-system 110according to serial advanced technology attachment (SATA), peripheralcomponent interconnect express (PCIe), universal serial bus (USB), fibrechannel (FC), serial attached SCSI (SAS), double data rate (DDR), smallcomputer system interface (SCSI), open NAND flash interface, low powerdouble data rate (LPDDR), non-volatile memory (NVM) express (NVMe),compute express link (CXL), or another technique.

Thus, a combination of the local host system 120 and the memorysub-system 110 can be used as a network-attached data storage deviceproviding storage services to the remote host system 121 through thenetwork interface 113 using a storage capacity of the memory devices130, . . . , 140.

For example, the processing device 118 can be a microprocessorconfigured as a CPU of a computing device functioning a network-attacheddata storage device. The local host system 120 can be connected to oneor more of the memory sub-systems (e.g., 110) via a peripheral bus 125.To scale up the storage capacity of the network-attached data storagedevice, more memory sub-systems (e.g., 110) can be connected to thelocal host system 120, with their respective network interfaces (e.g.,113) being connected to the computer network 114 and/or other computernetworks.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates an example of one remote host system 121connected to the network interface 113, multiple remote host systems(e.g., 121) can be configured on the computer network 114 to access thestorage services of the network-attached storage device. Access to thestorage services can be controlled via user credentials, hostattributes, network addresses, and/or security settings, etc.

To reduce the burden on the local host system 120, at least a portion ofcontrol messages, among the messages received via the network interface113 from the computer network 114 (e.g., from the remote host system121), can be separated in the memory sub-system 110 from other types ofmessages, such as data messages. The memory sub-system 110 is configuredto provide the control messages through the host interface 112 to thelocal host system 120 for processing without providing other messages,such as data messages, to the host interface 112, as discussed furtherbelow.

For example, network packets received in the network interface 113 canbe processed by the memory sub-system controller 115 to recover orgenerate control messages and data messages. The memory sub-systemcontroller 115 can include local memory 119 (e.g., random-access memory)and a processing device 117 configured to at least process the networkpackets from the network interface 113. The memory sub-system controller115 can buffer the control messages in the local memory 119 forprocessing by the local host system 120; and the local host system 120can place processing results in the local memory 119 for execution. Theexecution of the control messages processed by the local host system 120can generate meta data 123 that control the storage operations performedfor data messages. The controller 115 can be configured to execute thecommands of the data messages based on the meta 123 to store data intothe memory devices 130, . . . , 140, to retrieve data from the memorydevices 130, . . . , 140, and to transmit the retrieved data to theremote host system 121 using the network interface 113.

In some implementations, a memory device 130 can be a solid-state drive(e.g., a BGA SSD). Thus, the memory sub-system controller 115 canprocess and/or forward commands as processed by the local host system120 and other commands to operate the memory device 130.

In some implementations, a portion of the memory sub-system controller115 and at least a portion of the memory devices 130, . . . , 140 areconfigured as a conventional storage device (e.g., SSD); and a remainingportion of the memory sub-system controller 115 can forward commands tothe storage device for execution. Thus, a conventional storage device(e.g., SSD) can be used as a component or a local storage device inimplementation of the memory sub-system 110.

In some implementations, multiple portions of the memory sub-systemcontroller 115 and the memory devices 130, . . . , 140 can be configuredas multiple conventional storage devices (e.g., SSDs). In otherimplementations, the processing device 117 is shared by the memorydevices 130, . . . , 140 without being configured according to aconventional storage device (e.g., SSD). Thus, the configuration of thememory sub-system controller 115 and memory devices 130, . . . , 140 arenot limited to a particular connectivity and/or topology.

Bypassing the local host system 120 in the processing of the datamessages greatly reduces the workloads of the local host system 120.Thus, the local host system 120 can be used to control multiple memorysub-systems (e.g., 110) in expanding storage capacity.

Since the memory sub-system 110, as a product, is configured tospecifically service the storage access requests received via thenetwork interface 113, the processing and communication bandwidth withinthe memory sub-system 110 can be designed and tailored according to thecommunication bandwidth of the network interface 113. Products similarto the memory sub-system 110 can be used as building blocks of a networkstorage facility controlled by the local host system 120. The capacityof the network storage facility can be easily scaled up via connectingmore units to the computer network 114. Since the workload of the localhost system 120 and communications to the local host system 120 are verylow for controlling each memory sub-system 110, many memory sub-systems(e.g., 110) can be connected to the local host system 120 to scale upthe capacity of the network storage facility without being limited bythe communication bandwidth and/or processing power of an availablelocal host system 120.

FIG. 2 shows different paths for processing control messages and datamessages in a memory sub-system according to one embodiment.

For example, the processing paths of FIG. 2 can be implemented using amemory sub-system 110 of FIG. 1 and/or the computing system 100 of FIG.1 .

In FIG. 2 , a remote host system 121 is connected (e.g., over a computernetwork 114 as in FIG. 1 ) to the network interface 113 of the memorysub-system 110. The remote host system 121 can store host data 131 intothe storage capacity 143 of the memory sub-system 110, and retrieve thehost data 131 back from the memory sub-system 110, using a storageprotocol, such as internet small computer systems interface (iSCSI),fibre channel (FC), fibre channel over ethernet (FCoE), network filesystem (NFS), and server message block (SMB), or another protocol.

Using the storage protocol, the remote host system 121 can send controlmessages 133 to the memory sub-system 110 to manage and/or administratethe storage capacity. For example, the host system can sign into thememory sub-system to start a session and/or a read/write operation. Thecontrol message 133 can include a command to generate a namespace in thestorage capacity 143, to create, delete, open, or close a file in thenamespace, to set security attributes (e.g., which files are readableand/or writable by which users), etc.

The control messages 133 received via the network interface 113 areforwarded to the host interface 112 connected to the local host system120 for processing. Processed control messages 137 are provided to thecontroller 115 of the memory sub-system 110. Execution ofcommands/requests in the processed control messages 137 can generatemeta data 123 that controls the data storage operations of the memorysub-system 110.

Some of the control messages 133 can be used to generate access controlconfiguration data 141, such as identifications of user accounts, accessprivileges, user credentials, etc.

Optionally, the local host system 120 connected to the memory sub-system110 can provide a user interface. An administrator can use the userinterface to generate control messages 137 to perform administrativeand/or management operations, such as creating accounts, record orchange access credentials, generate namespaces, etc. At least a portionof the access control configuration data 141 can be generated via theuser interface.

The access control configuration data 141 can be stored in part in thememory sub-system 110, or in another storage device connected to thelocal host system 120.

Subsequently, when the remote host system 121 sends a control message133 for authentication or access, the local host system 120 can receivethe control message 133 and use the access control configuration data141 to determine whether to permit the access. If the request ispermitted, the local host system 120 can send a control message 137 tothe controller 115 of the memory sub-system to set up access. Forexample, in response to the control message 137, the controller 115 canset up a channel to the storage capacity. For example, the channel caninclude one or more queues in the local memory 119 for the read/writeoperations permitted by the control message 137. In someimplementations, the channel can further include a portion of the metadata 123 generated to facilitate the read/write operations (e.g., foraddress translation).

To write host data 131 into the memory sub-system 110, the remote hostsystem 121 can transmit a data message 135 containing a write commandand data to be stored. In response to the data message 135, thecontroller 115 can write the received data into the storage capacityusing the channel set up for the operation of the remote host system121. Thus, the data message 135 is not routed to the local host system120. Bypassing the local host system 120 in routing the data message 135prevents the local host system 120 from accessing the host data 131 inthe data message 135. Thus, the security for the host data 131 isimproved.

To access the host data 131 stored in the memory sub-system 110, theremote host system 121 can send a data message 135 containing a readcommand. In response to the read command in the data message 135, thecontroller 115 can use the channel set up for the operation of theremote host system 121 to retrieve the host data 131 and generate aresponse in the form of a data message 135. The data message 135 istransmitted back to the remote host system 121 using the networkinterface 113 without going through the host interface 112. Thus, thelocal host system 120 does not have access to the host data 131retrieved from the storage capacity 143, which also improves securityfor the host data 131.

Thus, by separating control messages 133 for routing into the local hostsystem 120, only a very tiny portion of messages communicated betweenthe remote host system 121 and the network interface 113 is routedthrough the local host system 120. Thus, the requirements on processingpower and communication bandwidth on the local host system 120 aredrastically reduced, while allowing the local host system 120 toexercise control over security, administrative, and managementoperations of the memory sub-system 110. The reduction makes it easy toscale up the storage capacity controlled by the local host system 120.For example, multiple memory sub-systems (e.g., 110) can be connectedover a computer bus or a peripheral bus 125 to the local host system120, while the memory sub-systems (e.g., 110) are separately connectedto one or more computer networks (e.g., 114) via their respectivenetwork interfaces (e.g., 113).

In some implementations, the network interface 113 includes a logiccircuit, a controller, and/or a processor configured to recover,identify, determine, or generate the control messages 133 and the datamessages 135 from data packets received from a computer network 114.

In some other implementations, the processing power of the controller115 is used to convert network packets received in the network interface113 into the control messages 133 and the data messages 135. Thecontroller 115 can include a processor configured with instructions togenerate the control messages 137 and the data messages 135.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration of control messages and data messages forprocessing in a memory sub-system according to one embodiment.

For example, the separation of control messages 133 and data messages135 for routing in different processing paths in FIG. 2 can beimplemented according to the configuration of FIG. 3 .

Network storage access messages 151 communicated between a remote hostsystem 121 and the network interface 113 of a memory sub-system 110 canbe partitioned into control messages 133 and data messages 135 asillustrated in FIG. 3 .

The control messages 133 can include a message containing accesscredential 161 to start a session or an operation.

The control messages 133 can include a message containing a command tocreate a namespace 163 in the storage capacity 143.

The control messages 133 can include a message containing a command tomap a namespace 165 in the storage capacity 143.

The control messages 133 can include a message containing a command toset a security attribute 167 in the storage capacity 143 (e.g., a readpermission for a user, a write permission for a user).

The control messages 133 can include a message containing a command toadjust a storage configuration 169 (e.g., move a file).

The control messages 133 can include other commands that can change metadata 123 in the memory sub-system 110 to control and organize host data131. However, the control messages 133 do not include host data 131 tobe written into the memory sub-system 110 and/or host data 131 beingread from the memory sub-system 110.

The data messages 135 can include a read message 153 having a readcommand 171 (and an address of data to be read), a response message 155having data 173 retrieved from the storage capacity 143, a write message157 having a write command 175 and provided data 177 to be written intothe storage capacity 143, a message having a trim or deallocationcommand, etc.

The control messages 133 are routed through the host interface 112 ofthe memory sub-system 110, but the data messages 135 are not routedthrough the host interface 112 of the memory sub-system 110. In someimplementations, network storage access messages 151 received for thenetwork interface 113 in one storage protocol is converted to controlmessages 133 and data messages 135 in another protocol for a localstorage device (e.g., a solid-state drive, a memory device 130).

In one aspect, a method is provided to process network messages toaccess storage of a memory sub-system according to one embodiment.

For example, the method can be performed by a storage manager configuredin a memory sub-system 110 and/or a local host system 120 of FIG. 1 tohave different processing paths illustrated in FIG. 2 using aconfiguration of FIG. 3 . For example, a storage manager in the memorysub-system 110 can be implemented to perform operations discussed inconnection with the memory sub-system 110; and the storage manager canbe implemented via a logic circuit and/or a processing device 117 of thememory sub-system controller 115, and/or instructions programmed to beexecuted by the processing device 117. For example, a storage manager inthe local host system 120 can be implemented to perform operationsdiscussed in connection with the local host system 120; and the storagemanager can be implemented via a logic circuit and/or a processingdevice 118 of the host system 120, and/or instructions programmed to beexecuted by the processing device 118.

In the method, a network interface 113 of a memory sub-system 110receives, over a computer network 114, packets from a remote host system121.

For example, the memory sub-system 110 can have a storage device, suchas a memory device 130, a solid-state drive having one or more memorydevices 130, . . . , 140 to provide a storage capacity 143 accessible tothe remote host system 121 over a computer network 114. The memorysub-system 110 can have a host interface 112 operable on a peripheralbus 125 connected to a local host system 120 to process a portion ofnetwork storage access messages 151 generated from the packets. Thememory sub-system 110 can have a storage manager (e.g., implemented viaa controller 115 coupled to the host interface 112, the networkinterface 113, and the solid-state drive).

In the method, the memory sub-system 110 determines (e.g., using astorage manager), from the packets, first control messages 133 and firstdata messages 135 that include first host data 131 provided by theremote host system 121.

For example, the remote host system 121 can access the storage functionsof the memory sub-system 110 using a storage protocol, such as internetsmall computer systems interface, fibre channel, fibre channel overethernet, network file system, or server message block, or anotherprotocol. The first control messages 133 and first data messages 135 canbe determined from the messages transmitted by the remote host system121 using the storage protocol. In some implementations, the firstcontrol messages 133 and first data messages 135 are recovered from thepackets received at the network interface 113. In some implementations,the messages transmitted from the remote host system 121 are translatedto a protocol for accessing the solid-state drive.

In the method, the memory sub-system 110 sends (e.g., using the storagemanager), through a host interface 112 of the memory sub-system 110, thefirst control messages 133 to a local host system 120.

For example, the host interface 112 can be configured according to acomputer peripheral bus 125 according to serial advanced technologyattachment, peripheral component interconnect express, universal serialbus, fibre channel, serial attached small computer system interface,double data rate, small computer system interface, open NAND flashinterface, low power double data rate, non-volatile memory express, orcompute express link, or another computer bus technique.

In the method, the local host system 120 processes (e.g., via a storagemanager), the first control messages 133 to generate second controlmessages 137.

In the method, the memory sub-system 110 receives (e.g., via its storagemanager), via the host interface 112 from the local host system 120, thesecond control messages 137 responsive to the first control messages133.

In the method, the memory sub-system 110 processes (e.g., via itsstorage manager), the second control messages 137 and the first datamessages 135, without sending the first data message 135 and/or thefirst host data 131 to the local host system 120, to write the firsthost data 131 into a memory device 130 of the memory sub-system 110.

For example, the first data messages 135 can include a write command175; and the first host data 131 (e.g., provided data 177) can bewritten into a memory device (e.g., 130) of the memory sub-systemaccording to the write command without the write command 175 and/or itsdata 177 going through the host interface 112.

For example, the first data message 135 can include a read command 171.In response, the memory sub-system 110 can read second host data (e.g.,data 173) from the solid-state drive and/or a memory device (e.g., 130)according to the read command 171 specified in the first data messages135. The memory sub-system 110 generates second data messages (e.g.,response message 155) containing the second host data (e.g., data 173).The memory sub-system 110 transmits, via the network interface 113, thesecond data messages (e.g., response message 155) to the remote hostsystem 121 without the second host data (e.g., retrieved data 173)and/or the second data messages (e.g., response message 155) goingthrough the host interface 112.

For example, the memory sub-system 110 can be configured to process thesecond control messages 137 to generate meta data 123 according to whichthe first host data 131 is written into the solid-state drive (e.g., thememory device 130) and the second host data (e.g., data 173) isretrieved from the solid-state drive (e.g., the memory device 130).

For example, the first control messages include a command (e.g., createa namespace 163, map a namespace 165) to create, map, or delete anamespace; and the meta data 123 is associated with the namespace.

For example, the memory sub-system 110 can be configured to process thesecond control messages 137 to set up a channel to write the first hostdata 131 or read the second host data (e.g., data 173).

For example, the memory sub-system 110 can have random-access memory(e.g., memory 119); and the channel can include one or more queuesconfigured, according to the second control messages, for writing datainto, and/or retrieving data from, the solid-state drive.

For example, the channel can be configured with data used by thecontroller 115 of the memory sub-system 110 to perform addresstranslation to write the first host data 131 into the solid-state drive.

For example, the first control messages 133 include a credential 161 toaccess a storage capacity 143 of the solid-state drive. The local hostsystem 120 can validate the credential 161 based on access controlconfiguration data 141.

For example, the first control messages 133 include a command to set asecurity attribute 167, and/or a command to adjust a storageconfiguration 169 in the solid-state drive.

The local host system 120 is configured to process the first controlmessage 133 to exercise security control and perform administrativeoperations.

In at least some embodiments, the local host system 120 is configured toprocess a selected subset of messages received in the network interface113 of the memory sub-system 110. The subset to be selected forprocessing can be specified by the local host system 120. The memorysub-system 110 can select the subset according to the selection criteriaspecified by the local host system 120 and provide the selected subsetto the local host system 120 without providing the remaining messages tothe local host system 120.

For example, the network interface 113 of the memory sub-system 110 caninclude, or be connected to, an internal processor (e.g., controller 115and/or processing device 117). The internal processor is configured toconvert data packets received in the network interface 113 intomessages. The internal processor is further configured to convertresponse messages 155 into data packets for transmission by the networkinterface 113 to a remote host system 121.

The messages received from the remote host system 121 can be classifiedinto categories or types. FIG. 3 illustrates a configuration ofclassifying messages into control messages 133 and data messages 135.Alternatively, the messages 151 can be classified as one group ofmessages for processing by the local host system 120, and another groupof messages for processing by the memory sub-system 110 without beingcommunicated to the local host system 120.

A configuration file can be written by the local host system 120 intothe memory sub-system 110 to indicate the criteria for selectingmessages for the local host system 120.

For example, the configuration file can specify that messages containingread commands 171 and write commands 175 are in a group of messages forprocessing by the memory sub-system 110 itself and other messages areselected for processing by the local host system 120.

For example, the configuration file can be stored into the memorysub-system 110 to request the memory sub-system 110 to forward messagesrelated to access control to the local host system 120 for processing.

For example, a configuration file can be stored into the memorysub-system 110 to request the memory sub-system 110 to forward datamessages of reading or writing data in a particular namespace forprocessing by the local host system 120.

In general, the selection of messages for processing by the local hostsystem 120 can use various message attributes and/or parameters inconstructing selection criteria. For example, the selection criteria canbe formulated based on command type, command category, storagedestination, data source, data size, user account, access type, time anddate, etc. Thus, the selection of messages for processing by the localhost system is not necessarily limited by a predetermined classification(e.g., control messages 133 for processing by the local host system anddata messages 135 for processing by the memory sub-system 110 itself).

The internal processor of the memory sub-system 110 can be implementedas a controller 115 and/or a processing device 117 configured viainstructions and/or logic circuits. The internal processor identifiesand separates messages 151 received from a computer network 114according to the configuration file. The internal processor identifies asubset of the messages 151 according to the configuration file andtransmitted the subset to the local host system 120. The local hostsystem 120 can process the messages in the subset and transmit responsesto the memory sub-system 110 for further processing. The internalprocessor identifies and processes the remaining messages within thememory sub-system 110 without transmitting them to the local host system120.

For example, the memory sub-system 110 can include a random-accessmemory and a local storage device, such as a solid-state drive, a harddrive, etc. The internal processor can buffer the messages, selected forprocessing by the local host system 120, in the random-access memory forretrieval by the local host system 120. Other messages can betransmitted from the internal processor to the local storage devicewithout being buffered in the random-access memory and/or without beingtransmitted to the local host system 120.

Optionally, the local host system 120 can also use the configurationfile to specify the criteria for selecting a portion of the responsemessages 155 for processing by the local host system 120. For example,the internal processor selects a portion of the response messages 155according to the configuration file and buffer the selected responsemessages 155 in the random-access memory for retrieval by the local hostsystem 120. After the processing of the selected response messages 155,the local host system 120 can provide messages to the memory sub-system110 for transmission by the network interface 113. The remainingresponse messages 155 can be selected according to the configurationfile and transmitted by the memory sub-system 110 without going throughthe local host system 120.

The local host system 120 can process the selected messages to applysecurity measures, control access, transform data, perform dynamicadministrative operations, etc.

The memory sub-system 110 can be configured as a storage product withoutoptions for hardware reconfiguration, modification, and/orcustomization. The storage product is manufactured as a computer storagecomponent usable through designed connections to an external processorand to the network interface.

For example, the storage product can be configured with a bus connector,a network port, and the memory sub-system 110. The memory sub-system 110is inaccessible without going through the bus connector and the networkport. The bus connector is connected to the controller 115 of the memorysub-system 110; and the network port is connected to the networkinterface 113.

The storage product can be configured in the form of an expansion cardhaving the bus connector insertable into an expansion slot on a motherboard for a connection to a computer bus 125 and thus the local hostsystem 120. Alternatively, the bus connector can be a port; and acomputer cable adapted for the computer bus 125 can be inserted into theport for connecting to the local host system 120.

Optionally, the storage product can be configured to have a form factorsimilar to a hard drive, a solid-state drive, an external drive, anetwork drive, etc. The storage product has a casing or housing thatencloses its components and protects them from tampering.

After the network port of the storage product is connected to a computernetwork 114 and the bus connector to a computer bus 125, the internalprocessor of the storage product can block network storage servicesuntil the local host system 120 specifies the configuration file.Subsequently, the network interface 113 of the storage product cancommunicate with one or more remote host systems (e.g., 121) to providenetwork storage services. Messages received from the remote host systemsare separated on different processing paths according to theconfiguration file. A subset of the messages is provided to the localhost system 120 for processing using a storage application and/or anoperating system. By processing the subset of the messages, the localhost system 120 can control and/or administer the activities within thestorage product, extend the functionality of the storage product, andcustomize the services offered by the storage product without a need tomodify the hardware of the storage product and/or the firmware of thestorage product. The remaining messages, not selected for processing bythe local host system 120, are processed by the memory sub-system 110itself.

In some implementations, the configuration file can includeidentifications of messages to be blocked, or discarded. When thenetwork interface 113 receives a message classified for blocking, theinternal processor can delete or discard the message without furtherprocessing the message by itself or forwarding it to the local hostsystem 120. For example, the storage product can be shipped with adefault configuration file that blocks all of the messages 155 todisable network storage services. A local host system 120 can change theconfiguration file to enable and/or customize network storage services.

A portion of the memory sub-system 110 can be configured as a localstorage device. Messages not selected for processing by the local hostsystem 120 can be forwarded to the local storage device for processing.The local storage device can have local memory 119 to buffer receivedcommands, schedule commands for execution, and perform other storageoperations, such as address translation, wear leveling, garbagecollection, error detection and correction, etc.

In some implementations, when connected to the storage product, thelocal host system 120 functions as a central processing unit of thestorage product. Optionally, the storage product can be configured to beinoperable standalone without the external central processing unit.

Optionally, the local host system 120 can be configured with a userinterface to receive inputs from an administrator to configure theconfiguration file for selecting messages. The user interface can befurther used to receive inputs to specify access control configurationdata 141, and/or to receive request to perform administrativeoperations, such as creating a namespace, creating a user account,assigning user access rights, etc. In response to the inputs received inthe user interface, the local host system 120 can generate controlmessages 137 for execution by the memory sub-system 110 in the storageproduct.

The storage product can be configured with sufficient resources toperform predefined operations, such as network operations and storageoperations, without assistance from the external processor. For example,when allowed, operations requested via the data messages 135 received inthe network interface 113 can be performed by the storage productwithout assistance from an external processor (e.g., processing device128 of the local host system 120) connected to the storage product. Forexample, the storage product itself has sufficient resources to convertbetween network packets and network storage access messages 151, performoperations to store or retrieve data, and perform other storageoperations, such as address translation, wear leveling, garbagecollection, error detection and correction, etc.

The external processor can execute instructions programmed to performaccess control, administer network storage services, manage storageconfiguration, data processing, and/or other operations. Commands foradministrative operations can be received in a local user interfacewithout going through a network interface (e.g., 113). Alternatively, orin combination, a remote host system (e.g., 121) can send commands tothe network interface (e.g., 113) to request the administrativeoperations. Thus, the external processor can exercise control over datamanipulation operations within the storage product.

The storage product can be designed to optimize performance and costbased on the communication bandwidth of the network interface 113. Thenetwork communication bandwidth substantially defines the workloads ofthe components with the storage product. Thus, the storage product canbe manufactured and provided as a computer component usable as a storagebuilding block. A storage system can be built using one or more suchstorage products connected to a same external processor. The storagecapacity of the storage system can be easily scaled up by using morestorage products connected to the storage system with their networkinterfaces being separately connected to one or more computer networks.Since the workload of the external processor is light in typicalapplications, the processing power and communication bandwidth of theexternal processor are not likely to be a bottleneck in practicalapplications.

In contrast, a conventional network attached storage device does nothave an interface for an external processor. Such a conventional storagedevice is entirely responsible for the processing of the messages anddata received at its network interface. Access control and security areimplemented via its firmware. Maintaining security of such firmware canbe a challenge. There is no mechanism in a conventional network attachedstorage device to apply control and administration operations withoutrequesting through the network interface of the storage device.

When a storage product has an interface for an external processor,control and administrative operations can be performed via the externalprocessor without going through the network interface of the storageproduct for improved security. Instead of relying solely upon thefirmware of the storage product to handle security and administrativeoperations through the network interface, a storage system implementedusing the storage product can use software running the externalprocessor of the storage product to apply security control and performadministrative operations. Further, security measures can be implementedin both the firmware of the storage product and the software running inthe external processor; and such an arrangement can improve security byincreasing the difficulties for gaining unauthorized access.

Further, the storage product can be configured to bypass the externalprocessor in processing the data messages 135 that contains host data131 (e.g., as in FIG. 2 ). Thus, the host data 131 is protected againstsecurity breaches in the local host system 120. Since the externalprocessor does not have access to the host data 131, unauthorized accessto the host data 131 cannot be made via the external processor.

When the storage product (e.g., memory sub-system 110) is connected toan external processor via the host interface 112 of the storage productto form a computing device, the external processor can function as acentral processing unit of the computing device. However, the storageproduct can be configured to provide limited access to the centralprocessing unit.

For example, the central processing unit can be provided with access tocontrol messages 133 specifically identified by the network interface113 for processing to generate control messages 137 for execution in astorage device within the storage product. However, the centralprocessing unit can be prevented from accessing the network interface113 directly. For example, the central processing unit can be preventedfrom using the network interface 113 to transmit messages and/or receivemessages other than processing the control messages 133 identified bythe network interface 113. Thus, the difficulty for unauthorized accessto hack, through the network interface, the system running in thecentral processing unit is increased; and the risk of the system runningin the central processing unit being hacked via a computer network 114and/or the Internet is eliminated, minimized, or reduced.

Similarly, the controller 115 can limit the access of the externalprocessor to the storage capacity 143. The central processing unit cansend control messages 137 without obtaining responses. Responses to readcommands are routed to the network interface directly without goingthrough the central processing unit. Further, the storage product can beconfigured to filter the control messages 137 from the externalprocessor to remove commands other than the commands for security andadministration.

For example, after booting up the system running in the centralprocessing unit, the controller 115 can reject or drop messages of thesame type as the data messages 135 when the messages are from thecentral processing unit. Thus, the central processing unit can beprevented from reading the host data 131, and/or writing over or erasingthe host data 131.

In some implementations, the storage functions, access control, andadministrative operations of the storage product are managed by anexternal processor connected to the host interface 112 without involvingthe network interface 113. An administrator can dynamically monitor theactivities, update and/or enhance the software executed in the externalprocessor.

For example, a storage application running in the external processor canbe programmed to provide a user interface. An authorized administratorcan use the user interface to specify access control configuration data141, such as who has access to what content, which portion of storagecapacity (e.g., namespace), what set of resources and capabilities getsexposed, etc. The access commands received at the network interface 113(e.g., in control messages 133) can be checked against the accesscontrol configuration data 141 and/or mapped to appropriate locations inthe storage capacity 143. The external processor can set up mapping foraccess commands/requests received at the network interface 113 (e.g.,for read or write operations) from locations as identified by the remotehost system 121 into corresponding commands in accessing appropriatelocations in the storage capacity 143.

For example, the operation system and/or the storage application runningin the external processor can be configured to be only on the controlpath for security and administration but not on the data path. The datato be written into or retrieved from the storage capacity 143 does notgo through the host interface 112 to the external processor. Instead,the computing resources built in the storage product are used to processthe data being stored or retrieved. Thus, the communication bandwidth tothe external processor, and the computational workload applied to theexternal processor are small, relative to the data flow into or outputfrom the storage product. As a result, the external processor can beused to control multiple storage data processing units in scaling up thecapability in handling large data flows.

FIG. 4 shows a network-ready storage product 102 configured to have anexternal processor selectively processing messages for the storageproduct according to one embodiment.

For example, the network-ready storage product 102 can be implementedusing a memory sub-system 110 of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2 configured to havedifferent processing paths for control messages 133 and data messages135.

In FIG. 4 , the storage product 102 includes a memory sub-system 110(e.g., as in FIG. 1 ), a bus connector 104 and a network port 106.

The memory sub-system 110 has a message selection configuration 201 thatcan be specified by an external processor (e.g., local host system 120,processing device 118). The message selection configuration 201identifies the selection criteria of messages to be processed by theexternal processor, and the selection criteria of messages to beprocessed by the memory sub-system 110 itself. Optionally, the messageselection configuration 201 can further include the selection criteriaof messages to be blocked, discarded, or ignored.

The message selection configuration 201 can be stored in a memory or aregister file of the memory sub-system 110 to control how the memorysub-system 110 dispatches different messages on different processingpaths. Optionally, the local host system 120 can dynamically adjust theconfiguration file for the selection of messages for processing ondifferent paths.

For example, to configure messages on different processing pathsaccording to the configuration of FIG. 3 , the message selectionconfiguration 201 can be configured to identify the messages 161 to 169as control messages 133 for processing by the local host system 120.Further, the message selection configuration 201 can be configured toread messages 153, response messages 155, write messages 157, etc., asdata messages 135 for processing by the data storage product 102 itselfwithout being forwarded to the local host system 120.

For example, the message selection configuration 201 can specify thetypes of messages to be processed by the storage product 102 itself andrequests the remaining messages to be forwarded to the local host system120 for processing.

For example, the message selection configuration 201 can be configuredto specify the types of messages to be processed by the local hostsystem 120 and request the storage product 102 to process the remainingmessages without forwarding the messages to the local host system 120.

For example, the message selection configuration 201 can be configuredto specify certain types of messages to be processed by the storageproduct 102 itself, specify certain types of messages to be transmittedto the local host system 120 for processing, and request the storageproduct 102 to block, discard, or ignore remaining messages.

The classifications of messages, or selection criteria, can be based ontypes of messages, commands specified in the messages, parametersspecified for the commands, such as address, user account, access type,etc.

The controller 115 of the memory sub-system 110 can be configured todetermine the routing destinations of messages 151 based on the messageselection configuration 201.

The storage product 102 can be manufactured without a central processingunit for general-purpose processing. The processing logic and computingresources in the storage product are designed according to core storageoperations for network storage services. Customization of the servicescan be implemented via the use of a message selection configuration 201to select messages for processing by the local host system 120 externalto the storage product 102.

The storage product 102 can be shipped from a manufacturer as astandalone computer component for production or assembling of networkstorage devices, servers, computers, etc.

A network cable can be inserted into the network port 106 of the storageproduct 102 for a network connection between a remote host system 121and the network interface 113 of the storage product 102. In someimplementations, the network interface 113 includes a wirelesstransceiver for a wireless computer network (e.g., a wireless local areanetwork or WiFi network); and the network port 106 includes a connectorfor an antenna for the transceiver.

The bus connector 104 of the storage product 102 can be connected to acomputer bus 125. When the storage product 102 is connected via thecomputer bus 125 to a local host system 120, the combination of thelocal host system 120 and the storage product 102 can be a computingdevice configured to provide network storage services, such as theservices of a typical network attached storage device.

The storage product 102 can be manufactured to include an optionalcasing or housing that encloses the memory sub-system 110, in a waysimilar to a solid-state drive, a hard disk drive, an external drive, anetwork drive, etc. (e.g., as in FIG. 10 ). In some implementations, thestorage product 102 is configured on a printed circuit board (PCB); anda portion of the printed circuit board (PCB) is configured as the busconnector 104 insertable into an expansion slot (e.g., a PCIe slot on amother board) (e.g., as in FIG. 11 ). Alternatively, the bus connector104 can be configured as a port such that a computer cable (e.g.,according to PCIe, USB) can be inserted for a connection to the computerbus 125.

The bus connector 104 and the network port 106 provide access to thelogic circuits within the storage product 102.

In some implementations, power to operate the memory sub-system 110 isprovided via the bus connector 104 or the network port 106. In otherimplementations, the storage product 102 has a separate power connectorto receive power for the operations of the memory sub-system 110.

The storage product 102 offers no other interfaces for accessing itscomponents, and/or for modifying and/or augmenting the hardware of thestorage product 102. Thus, the usage of the storage product 102 inconstructing the hardware of computing devices, servers, network storagedevices, etc. can be greatly simplified.

In addition to being connected to the bus connector 104 and the localhost system 120, the computer bus 125 can be further connected toperipheral devices, such as a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, a speaker, aprinter, a storage device storing access control configuration data 141and/or instructions of an operating system 213 and/or a storageapplication 215 to be executed in the central processing device, etc.

Some of the peripheral devices can be used to implement a user interface211 to receive commands to manage the storage capacity 143 of the memorysub-system 110 (e.g., storage quota, storage partition) and/or to manageaccess control configuration data 141 (e.g., user accounts, accessrights, credential).

For example, the user interface 211 can be used to generate the contentof the message selection configuration 201; and the storage application215 and/or the operating system 213 can be used to write the messageselection configuration 201 into a predetermined location within thememory sub-system 110 to control its operations in dispatching messages151 onto different paths. Alternatively, or in combination, the messageselection configuration 201 can be stored into the memory sub-system 110by an authorized user of a remote host system 121 over the networkinterface 113.

In some implementation, the access control configuration data 141 aregenerated and/or configured via the user interface for the networkstorage services of the storage product 102. Such an arrangement removesthe need to configure, adjust, and/or administer the access controlconfiguration data 141 through the network interface 113 over a computernetwork 114. Thus, the security of the access control configuration data141 can be improved. To further improve security, the message selectionconfiguration 201 can be configured to reject, block, ignore or discarda portion of the control messages 133 that are received from thecomputer network 114 and configured to set up or change access controlconfiguration data 141.

Similarly, administrative operations can be performed via the userinterface to relieve remote host systems (e.g., 121) from beingprogrammed to perform such operations via a network connection.

Optionally, when a portion of control and/or administrative requests isimplemented to receive via the bus connector 104, messages received inthe network port 106 for such operations can be selected for blocking,rejecting, discarding, etc.

The storage capability controlled by the local host system 120 can beexpanded by connecting, to the computer bus 125, one or more otherstorage products similar to the storage product 102.

In some implementations, the local host system 120 can send, through thecomputer bus 125, commands to control the operations of at least some ofthe components configured within the storage product 102. For example,the local host system 120 can send commands to start or stop theoperation of the network interface 113, manage the networkattributes/configuration of the network interface 113, etc. For example,the local host system 120 can send commands to the memory sub-systemcontroller 115 to start or stop its operations. For example, the localhost system 120 can send commands to write data into the local memory119 and read data from the local memory 119.

In some implementations, at least a portion of the controller 115 andthe memory devices 130, . . . , 140 are configured as one or more localstorage devices (e.g., solid-state drives) as in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 ;and the local host system 120 can send to the storage device commandsfor storage operations, such as create or delete namespaces, read dataat specified addresses, write data at specified addresses, erase data atspecified addresses, etc.

Optionally, the local host system 120 has limited access to thecomponents in the memory sub-system 110. For example, the access can belimited to the receiving of the messages 133 identified by the networkinterface 113 according to the message selection configuration 201 forprocessing by an external processor of the storage product 102 andsending the control messages 137 responsive to the selected messages 133or responsive to user inputs specified in the user interface providedvia the instructions executed in the local host system 120.

FIG. 5 illustrates a technique to configure a storage product to routemessages for processing on different paths according to one embodiment.

For example, the messages received in the network interface 113 of thememory sub-system 110 in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and/or FIG. 4 can beseparated for processing by a local host system and a storage devicerespectively.

In FIG. 5 , incoming packets 202 received in the network interface 113are used to construct storage access messages 151. The messages 151 canhave different types, attributes, and/or parameters. The messages 151can include messages 205, 207, and 206. A demultiplexer 203 iscontrolled by a message selection configuration 201 to separate themessages 205, 207, and 206 for different processing paths.

The message selection configuration 201 can specify host selectioncriteria 217 and local selection criteria 219 to select messages for thelocal host system 120 and for a local storage device 105 respectively.

A message 205 that satisfies the host selection criteria 217 isdispatched by the demultiplexer 203 to the local host system 120. Inresponse to the message 205, the local host system 120 can generate oneor more messages 209 for further processing by the local storage device105. Such a message 205 is not provided to the local storage device 105without going through the local host system 120.

For example, a storage application 215 running in the local host system120 can be configured to process the input messages 205 and generate theoutput messages 209 for the local storage device 105.

A message 207 that satisfies the local selection criteria 219 isdispatched by the demultiplexer 203 to the local storage device 105without going through the local host system 120.

A message 206 does not satisfy the host selection criteria 217 and doesnot satisfy the local selection criteria 219. The multiplexer 203selects and discard 210 such a message 206.

In some implementations, the local host system 120 can also receive userinputs 204 from a user interface 211 to generate output messages 209 forthe local storage device 105.

FIG. 5 illustrates the selection of messages 151 coming from the networkinterface 113 for processing by the local host system 120 or the localstorage device 105. Similarly, a portion of the responsive messages 155generated by the local storage device 105 can also be optionallyidentified in the message selection configuration 201 for processing bythe local host system 120. The local host system 120 processes theselected receive messages 155 to generate resulting messages andprovides the resulting message to the storage product 102 fortransmission via the network interface 113, as illustrated in FIG. 8 .

In at least some embodiments, the network storage services provided viathe storage product 102 are implemented and defined at least in part bythe software running in the local host system 120 external to thestorage product 102.

For example, the storage application 215 running in the local hostsystem 120 can be programmed to generate new control messages 137 basedon control messages 133 received in the network interface 113 of thestorage product 102. The functionality of the storage product 102, fromthe point of view of the remote host system 121, can be changed and/orimplemented via the programming of the storage application 215.

For example, the remote host system 121 can send a message 133 that isnot executable in the storage product 102. When the message 133corresponds to a function not predefined/designed for the storageproduct 102, the storage product 102 can generate messages 137 toimplement the function. The message 133 can be selected according to themessage selection configuration 201 for processing by the local hostsystem 120. The storage application 215 running on the local host system120 can be programmed to process the message 133 to implement such afunction that is not native to the storage product 102. For example, thestorage application 215 can be programmed to dynamically change or remapa control message 133 received in the network interface 113 into acombination of messages 137 that are executable, natively supported inthe storage product 102. Receiving and executing the combination ofmessages 137 in the storage product 102 implement the functioncorresponding to the message 133. Thus, the functionality of the networkstorage services provided via the storage product 102 can be defined atleast in part by data and/or logic external to the storage product 102.

As an example, the storage application 215 can be configured to generatecontrol messages 137 to store multiple copies of data for a dataset toimprove reliability of the dataset. The dataset can be selected viatime, an account, a user, a namespace, an application, and/or other dataselection criteria. The replication can be dynamically turned on or off,or performed for a dynamically selected dataset without the need toupdate the firmware and/or hardware of the storage product 102.

For example, the storage application 215 can be configured to provide acentralized user interface to receive commands to perform administrativeoperations, configure and/or customize the functions offered via thestorage product 102, etc.

FIG. 6 shows a storage application mapping messages received from acomputer network into messages to be executed in a storage product toimplement network storage services according to one embodiment.

For example, the storage application 215 of FIG. 6 can be implemented ina local host system 120 connected to a storage product 102 having amemory sub-system 110 according to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and/or FIG. 4 .

In FIG. 6 , a memory sub-system 110 and/or a storage product 102containing the memory sub-system 110 can be designed to support astorage product command set 223. Commands or requests according to thestorage product command set 223 can be processed within the memorysub-system 110 without assistance from outside of the memory sub-system110.

The storage application 215 can be programmed to support storage servicecommand set 221, which can optionally contain at least a portion of thestorage product command set 223. At least a portion of the storageservice command set 221 can be outside of the storage product commandset 223.

A message 205 forwarded from the memory sub-system 110 for processing bythe local host system 120 can be processed by the storage application215. In addition to determine whether the operation identified by themessage 205 is permitted in view of access control configuration data141, the storage application 215 can determine an implementation of theoperation using the storage product command set 223.

For example, when a command or request in the message 205 is supportedin the storage product command set 223, the storage application 215 cansimply forward the received message 205 as the message 209 transmittedto the memory sub-system 110 for processing, after a determination thatthe command or request is permitted according to the access controlconfiguration data 141.

In some implementations, the storage application 215 can alter one ormore parameters provided in the message 205 to generate the outputmessage 209 for the memory sub-system 110 to process.

When a command or request in the message 205 is not in the storageproduct command set 223, the storage application 215 can be programmedto map the received message 205 to one or more output messages 209 thatare in the storage product command set 223 to implement the functionrequested by the message 205. Thus, at least some of the network storageservices offered to the remote host system 121 can be defined andimplemented by the storage application 215.

In some instances, a command or request in the incoming messages 205 canbe in the storage product command set 223 but selected for add-onservices and/or features. In response to such an incoming message 205,the storage application 215 can generate addition messages 209 toimplement the add-on services and/or features, in addition to forwardingthe incoming message 205 to the storage product 102.

In some implementations, the storage application 215 can program a setor sequence of messages to implement the function requested by anincoming message, as illustrated in FIG. 7 .

FIG. 7 illustrates a storage application programmed to implement amessage using multiple messages to a storage product according to oneembodiment.

For example, one of the messages 205 received in the storage application215 in FIG. 6 can be processed in a way illustrated in FIG. 7 .

In FIG. 7 , a message 237 received in the storage application 215 can beone of the control messages 133 (or messages 205) selected forprocessing by the local host system 120 according to the messageselection configuration 201 of FIG. 4 and/or FIG. 5 . The storageproduct 102 is incapable of processing the received message 237 toimplement its associated function without assistance from outside of thestorage product 102.

To implement the function associated with the received message 237, thestorage application 215 can generate a set, or a sequence, of messages231, 233, . . . , 235. For example, the messages 231, 233, . . . , 235can be a portion of the control messages 137 (or messages 209) providedby the local host system 120 to the memory sub-system 110 and/or thelocal storage device 105 to implement the request identified by thereceived message 237.

The commands or requests in the messages 231, 233, . . . , 235 areconfigured in the storage product command set 223. Thus, the storageproduct 102, the memory sub-system 110, and/or the local storage device105 can process the messages 231, 233, . . . , 235 without furtherassistance from outside of the storage product 102.

The messages 231, 233, . . . , 235 are configured to use the resourcesand/or functions of the storage product 102 to implement the request ofthe incoming message 237. For example, the messages 231, 233, . . . ,235 can use one or more command in the storage product command set 223to retrieve a relevant portion of the meta data 123 stored in thestorage product 102, process the retrieved data, and write data into thestorage product to record results, to configure the storage product 102in processing subsequent read/write requests, etc. Thus, the storageapplication 215 can control how data is processed for storage andretrieval in implementing new services not native to the storage product102.

The message selection configuration 201 can be configured to selectresponse messages 155 generated by the local storage device 105 andrequest the storage product 102 to provide the selected messages to thelocal host system 120 for processing. For example, the responses to themessages 231, 233, . . . , 235 can be selected for processing by thestorage application 215 to generate a response to the incoming message237 according to a storage service command set 221, as in FIG. 8 .

FIG. 8 shows a storage application programmed to generate responses fortransmission by a storage product according to one embodiment.

For example, the storage application 215 in FIG. 8 can be used toprocess the responses to the messages 231, 233, . . . , 235 generated inFIG. 7 to implement an incoming message 237 selected in a wayillustrated in FIG. 5 .

In FIG. 8 , a local storage device 105 in a storage product 102 isconfigured to process messages 209 received from a local host system 120and messages 207 that bypasses the local host system 120. After executesthe commands and/or requests in the messages 207 and 209, the localstorage device 105 can generate response messages 225.

A demultiplexer 203 in the storage product 102 can separate the responsemessages 225 based on the host selection criteria 217 and the localselection criteria 219 specified in the message selection configuration201.

For example, messages 227 can be selected according to the hostselection criteria 217 for a processing path that involves the localhost system 120. The storage application 215 in the local host system120 can provide response messages 228 for transmission by a networkinterface 113 of the storage product 102.

For example, messages 226 can be selected according to the localselection criteria 219 for bypassing the local host system 120.

The network interface 113 generates outgoing packets 229 fortransmitting messages 226 and 228 into a computer network 114.

Other messages 206 not selected via the host selection criteria and notselected via the local selection criteria 219 can be discarded 210.

For example, in response to the messages 231, 233, . . . , 235 receivedto implement the incoming message 237 in FIG. 7 , the local storagedevice 105 can generate responses 241, 243, . . . , 245 respectively.The storage application 215 can combine the responses 241, 243, . . . ,245 to generate a response 247 for the incoming messages 237.

In some implementations, a copy of data relevant to the operations andservices of the storage product 102 is stored in the storage product102. Thus, another local host system 120 having the storage application215 can be dynamically connected to the storage product 102 to replace alocal host system 120 currently connected to the storage product 102 inprocessing messages selected according to the message selectionconfiguration 201. Alternatively, another memory sub-system connected tothe computer bus 125 can be used to store the data.

In at least some embodiments, the storage product 102 is configured witha bus switch to route messages on different processing paths.

For example, the bus switch can be a PCIe bus switch connectingcomponents of the storage product 102, such as the network interface113, the local storage device 105, the bus connector 104, the controller115, etc.

For example, after the network interface 113 uses its processing powerto convert the incoming packets 202 received from a computer network 114into storage access messages 151, the network interface 113 can use thebus switch to send the messages 205 selected according to the hostselection criteria 217 to the local host system 120 (e.g., using a peerto peer protocol). Thus, the local storage device 105 does not haveaccess to the messages 205 selected for processing by the local hostsystem 120.

Similarly, the network interface 113 can identify the messages 207 forprocessing by the local storage device 105 according to the localselection criteria 219 and use the bus switch to send the messages 207directly to the local storage device 105 (e.g., using a peer to peerprotocol). Thus, the local host system 120 does not have access to themessages 205 selected for processing by the local storage device 105.

After the local host system 120 generates the messages 209 forprocessing by the local storage device 105, the local host system 120can use the bus switch to send its generated messages 209 to the localstorage device 105 directly (e.g., using a peer to peer protocol). Thus,the network interface 113 does not have access to the messages 209generated by the local host system 120.

After the local storage device 105 generates response messages 225, thelocal storage device 105 can use the bus switch to send to the localhost system 120 the response messages 227, responsive to the messages209 received from the local host system 120. After the local host system120 generates response messages 228 for the messages 205 received fromthe network interface 113, the local host system 120 can use the busswitch to send the response messages 228, responsive to the messages 205processed by the local host system 120, to the network interface 113 fortransmission.

Similarly, the local storage device 105 can use the bus switch to send,to the network interface 113, the response messages 226, generated inresponse to the message 207 received directly from the network interface113.

In some implementations, the messages 205 to the local host system 120and the messages 209 from the local host system 120 can be buffered in arandom-access memory of the storage product 102. The local host system120 can use the bus switch to access the random-access memory; and aprocessing device of the storage product 102 can use the bus switch toaccess the random-access memory to buffer the messages 205 into therandom-access memory for processing by the local host system 120 and toretrieve the messages 209 generated by the local host system 120 fordispatching to the local storage device 105.

FIG. 9 shows a storage product 102 configured with a bus switch to routemessages for internal and external processing according to oneembodiment.

For example, the storage product 102 of FIG. 4 can be implemented in away as in FIG. 9 .

In FIG. 9 , the storage product 102 has a bus switch 251. At least somecomponents of the storage product 102 have connections (e.g., 253, 257,259) to the bus switch 251. Further, the bus switch 251 has a connection255 to an external computer bus 125 connected to a local host system120.

In FIG. 9 , the storage product 102 has a random-access memory 101, alocal storage device 105, and a network interface 113. The networkinterface 113 includes a processing device 107 configured to convertincoming packets 202 to storage access messages 151, and to convertresponse messages 247 and 226 to outgoing packets 229.

The bus switch 251 can connect any two of the connections 253, 255, 257,259 and disconnection other connections from them to provide acommunication channel between the two connections.

For example, the bus switch 251 can join the connections 255 and 257 toprovide a communication channel in the form of a functioning computerbus between the local host system 120 and the random-access memory 101.The connections 253 and 259 and thus the processing device 107 and thelocal storage device 105 are disconnected from the functioning computerbus to prevent interfering with communications between the local hostsystem 120 and the random-access memory 101.

The local host system 120 can be in control of the communication overthe communication channel to the random-access memory 101; and thecommunications over the channel can be according to the protocol of thecomputer bus 125. For example, the local host system 120 can retrievemessages 205 buffered into the random-access memory 101 by theprocessing device 107 for processing, buffer its generated messages 209for processing in the local storage device 105, and/or buffer responsemessages 228 into the random-access memory 101 for transmission via thenetwork interface 113.

For example, the bus switch 251 can join the connections 253 and 259 toprovide a communication channel in the form of a functioning computerbus between the processing device 107 and the local storage device 105.The connections 255 and 257 and thus the local host system 120 and therandom-access memory 101 are disconnected from the functioning computerbus to prevent interfering with communications between the processingdevice 107 and the local storage device 105.

The processing device 107 can be in control of the communication overthe communication channel to the local storage device 105; and thecommunications over the channel can be according to the protocol of thecomputer bus 125. For example, the processing device 107 can send themessages 207 selected according to the local selection criteria 219 tothe local storage device 105 without buffering the messages 207 into therandom-access memory 101; and the processing device 107 can retrieve theresponse messages 226 selected according to the local selection criteria219 from the local storage device 105.

For example, the local storage device 105 has a local memory 119; andthe processing device 107 can buffer the messages 207 into the localmemory 119 for processing by the local storage device 105 and retrievethe response messages 226 buffered in the local memory 119 by the localstorage device 105.

For example, the bus switch 251 can join the connections 253 and 257 toprovide a communication channel in the form of a functioning computerbus between the processing device 107 and the random-access memory 101.The connections 255 and 259 and thus the local host system 120 and thelocal storage device 105 are disconnected from the functioning computerbus to prevent interfering with communications between the processingdevice 107 and the random-access memory 101.

The processing device 107 can be in control of the communication overthe communication channel to the random-access memory 101; and thecommunications over the channel can be according to the protocol of thecomputer bus 125. For example, the processing device 107 can buffermessages 205 selected according to the host selection criteria 217 intothe random-access memory 101 for retrieval by the local host system 120,and retrieve from the random-access memory 101 the response messages 228generated by the local host system 120.

In some implementations, the processing device 107 can further retrieve,from the random-access memory 101, the messages 209 generated by thelocal host system 120 and buffer the retrieved messages 209 into thelocal memory 119 in the local storage device 105 for processing.

For example, the bus switch 251 can join the connections 257 and 259 toprovide a communication channel in the form of a functioning computerbus between the local storage device 105 and the random-access memory101. The connections 253 and 255 and thus the local host system 120 andthe processing device 107 are disconnected from the functioning computerbus to prevent interfering with communications between the local storagedevice 105 and the random-access memory 101.

The local storage device 105 can be in control of the communication overthe communication channel to the random-access memory 101; and thecommunications over the channel can be according to the protocol of thecomputer bus 125. For example, the local storage device 105 can retrievethe messages 209 generated and buffered by the local host system 120 inthe random-access memory 101, and buffer response messages 227responsive to messages 209 from the local host system 120 into therandom-access memory 101 for retrieval by the local host system 120.

Alternatively, the processing device 107 can retrieve the messages 209generated and buffered by the local host system 120 in the random-accessmemory 101 and buffer the retrieved messages 209 into the local memory119 of the local storage device 105 for processing.

Similarly, instead of the local storage device 105 buffering theresponse messages 227 into the random-access memory 101 for processingby the local host system 120, the processing device 107 can retrieve theresponse messages 225 from the local memory 119 of the local storagedevice 105, select the response messages 227 according to the hostselection criteria 217, and buffer the selected response messages 227into the random-access memory 101 for retrieval by the local host system120.

In some implementations, the bus switch 251 can join the connections 255and 259 to provide a communication channel in the form of a functioningcomputer bus between the local host system 120 and the local storagedevice 105. The connections 253 and 257 and thus the random-accessmemory 101 and the processing device 107 are disconnected from thefunctioning computer bus to prevent interfering with communicationsbetween the local storage device 105 and the local host system 120.

The local host system 120 can be in control of the communication overthe communication channel to the local storage device 105; and thecommunications over the channel can be according to the protocol of thecomputer bus 125. For example, instead of communicating the messages 209generated by the local host system 120 via the random-access memory 101,the local host system 120 can buffer the generated message 209 directlyinto the local memory 119 of the local storage device 105 forprocessing. Bypassing the random-access memory 101 for communications ofmessages 209 generated by the local host system 120 to the local storagedevice 105 can reduce the size requirement for the random-access memory101 and/or improve performance.

For example, instead of communicating the response messages 227generated by the local storage device 105 via the random-access memory101, the local host system 120 can directly retrieve the responsemessages 227 from the local memory 119 of the local storage device 105for processing.

Optionally, the local host system 120 can have a random-access memory101 accessible via the computer bus 125. Thus, the communications toand/or from the storage application 215 can be via the random-accessmemory of the local host system 120; and the random-access memory 101can be configured in the network interface 113 to remove the connection257.

In one example, the network interface 113 is connected to the bus switch251 via the processing device 107. In some implementations, the networkinterface 113 and the processing device 107 have separate connections253 to the bus switch 251; and the bus switch 251 can connect theseparate connections 253 to provide a communication channel in the formof a functioning computer bus between the processing device 107 and thenetwork interface 113. Through the communication channel, the processingdevice 107 can receive the incoming packets 202 from the networkinterface 113; and the network interface 113 can receive the outgoingpackets 229 for transmission into the computer network 114.

Communications over the computer bus 125 and/or the interconnect 103 canbe implemented according to serial advanced technology attachment(SATA), peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe), universalserial bus (USB), fibre channel (FC), serial attached SCSI (SAS), doubledata rate (DDR), small computer system interface (SCSI), open NAND flashinterface, low power double data rate (LPDDR), non-volatile memory (NVM)express (NVMe), compute express link (CXL), or another technique.

The random-access memory 101 can be implemented using dynamicrandom-access memory (DRAM), synchronous dynamic random-access memory(SDRAM), static random-access memory (SRAM), three-dimensionalcross-point (“3D cross-point”) memory, etc.

The storage device 105 can have a host interface 109 configured tocommunicate on a bus (e.g., provided by the bus switch 251 between theconnections 253 and 259) to receive commands and send responses.

For example, the bus switch 251 can be adapted to connect computer busesof a same type as the computer bus 125 on which the local host system120 is connected. Alternatively, a host interface 112 of the storageproduct 102 can be used to bridge the computer bus 125 and the busswitch 251.

The storage device 105 can have a controller 115 having a local memory119 and a processing device 117, similar to the memory sub-systemcontroller 115 in FIG. 1 . The controller 115 can buffer, in the localmemory 119, commands and data received via the host interface 109. Theprocessing device 117 can be configured via instructions and/or logiccircuits to execute write commands to store data into the memory devices130, . . . , 140, to execute read commands to retrieve host data 131,etc. In some implementations, the host interface 109 of the localstorage device 105 uses a same communications protocol as the hostinterface 112 of the storage product 102 and/or the bus switch 251.

In some implementations, the bus switch 251 can provide multiplecommunication channels simultaneously for different pairs ofconnections.

For example, while the connection 253 to the processing device 107 andthe connection 257 to random-access memory 101 are connected by the busswitch 251 for the processing device 107 to access the random-accessmemory 101, the connection 255 to the local host system 120 and theconnection the connection 259 to the local storage device 105 can beconnected by the bus switch 251 at the same time for the local hostsystem 120 to access the local storage device 105.

For example, while the connection 255 to the local host system 120 andthe connection 257 to the random-access memory 101 are connected by thebus switch 251 to allow the local host system 120 to access therandom-access memory 101, the connection 253 to the processing device107 and the connection 259 to the local storage device 105 can beconnected by the bus switch 251 for the processing device 107 to accessthe local storage device 105 at the same time.

For example, while the bus switch 251 connects the connections 253 toprovide a communication channel between the network interface 113 andthe processing device 107, the bus switch 251 can connect two of theconnections 255, 257 and 259 to provide a communication channel betweenthe local host system 120 and the random-access memory 101, or betweenthe random-access memory 101 and the local storage device 105, orbetween the local host system 120 and the local storage device 105.

FIG. 10 shows a storage product having a storage device, a network port,and a bus connector to an external processor according to oneembodiment.

For example, the storage product 102 of FIG. 4 and/or FIG. 9 can beimplemented in a way illustrated in FIG. 10 with message dispatchingtechniques illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8 . The storage product 102 ofFIG. 10 can be connected to a local host system 120 to process messages205 and 227 using a storage application 215 as in FIG. 6 , FIG. 7 ,and/or FIG. 8 .

In FIG. 10 , the storage product 102 has a bus switch 251 connecting abus connector 104, a processing device 107 connected to a networkinterface 113, a random-access memory 101, and a local storage device105. For example, the bus switch 251 can selectively connected anddisconnect some of the connections 253, 255, 257, and 259 to enablecommunications.

An external processor (e.g., a microprocessor, a local host system 120,or a processing device 118) can access a portion of the functions orcircuits in the storage product 102 via the bus connector 104. Theexternal processor can be programmed via instructions of the storageapplication 215 to control operations in the memory sub-system 110 byspecifying a message selection configuration 201 for receiving messages205 for processing, and by generating messages 209 for execution in thelocal storage device 105 and messages 228 for transmission by thenetwork interface 113.

The random-access memory 101 can be accessible to the local host system120 over a computer bus 125. For example, messages 205 to be processedby the local host system 120 and/or messages 209 to be transmitted tothe storage device 105 can be buffered in the random-access memory 101.

The storage application 215 running in the local host system 120 canwrite the message selection configuration 201 into a predeterminedlocation in the random-access memory 101. The processing device 107 ofthe memory sub-system 110 is configured to retrieve the messageselection configuration 201 from the random-access memory 101. Theprocessing device 107 is configured to identify messages 205 to beprocessed by the storage application 215 based on the criteria specifiedin the message selection configuration 201.

In some implementations, the message selection configuration 201 iscommunicated from the local host system 120 to the storage product 102during a power up process of the local storage device 105. Theprocessing device 107 can retrieve the message selection configuration201 from the random-access memory 101 and then control message flows inthe memory sub-system 110 according to the retrieved message selectionconfiguration 201.

In some implementations, a predetermined portion of the random-accessmemory 101 is configured to store the message selection configuration201 to control the processing device 107. The local host system 120 candynamically change the message selection configuration 201 to controlmessage flows.

In some implementations, a register file or a non-volatile memory of thememory sub-system 110 is configured to store the message selectionconfiguration 201 that controls the message flows.

The local storage device 105 can provide the storage capacity 143 of thestorage product 102 accessible over a computer network 114. For example,the local storage device 105 can have integrated circuit memory devices130, . . . , 140 to provide the storage capacity 143. For example, thestorage device 105 can be configured as a solid-state drive usable on acomputer peripheral bus through its host interface 109. In someimplementations, the storage device 105 is a solid-state drive (SSD) ora BGA SSD. In other embodiments, a hard disk drive can be used as thestorage device 105.

The storage product 102 can be enclosed in a housing or casing 170 toprotect the components of the memory sub-system 110. Access to functionsof the components within the storage product can be limited to the useof the bus connector 104 and the network port 106. Since the resourcesof the memory sub-system 110 are designed to be sufficient to handlerequests received according to the communication bandwidth of thenetwork interface 113, the storage product 102 does not offer optionsfor a user to customize its hardware (e.g., adding components, removingcomponents, altering connections, etc.).

In some implementations, the network interface 113 includes a wirelesstransceiver for a wireless network connection; and the network port 106includes a connector for an antenna.

In FIG. 10 , the network interface 113 includes, or is controlled by, aprocessing device 107 (e.g., a logic circuit, a controller, or aprocessor). The processing device 107 is configured to process incomingpackets 202 received from the computer network 114 and to generateoutgoing packets 229 for transmitting messages (e.g., response message226 and 228) into the computer network 114.

The processing device 107 of the network interface 113 is furtherconfigured to identify and separate messages for the local host system120 and the storage device 105 according to the message selectionconfiguration 201. A portion of messages received in the networkinterface 113 from the computer network 114 is identified and providedto the local host system 120 for processing. For example, controlmessages 133 are identified and selected for processing by the localhost system 120 in view of access control configuration data 141. Forexample, the processing device 107 connected to the network interface113 can buffer the messages 205 selected for processing by the localhost system 120 in the random-access memory 101 (e.g., in one or morequeues); and the local host system 120 can be configured (e.g., via anoperating system 213 and/or a storage application 215) to retrieve themessages 205 to determine whether to accept or reject the requests inthe retrieved messages 205, whether to transform the retrieved messages205, and/or whether to generate new messages 209 for processing by thestorage device 105 and/or the storage product 102.

The processing device 107 can forward the remaining messages receivedvia the network interface 113 from the computer network 114 (e.g., datamessages 135) to the storage device 105 without the messages goingthrough the local host system 120. In some implementations, theprocessing device 107 further selects a portion of the incoming storageaccess messages 151 and provides the selected messages 207 to the localstorage device 105; and the remaining messages are discarded, rejected,or ignored as in FIG. 5 .

Optionally, the storage product 102 can be configured to limit theaccess of the local host system 120 to processing the messages bufferedin the random-access memory 101 by the processing device 107 of thenetwork interface 113 and sending the processed or generated messages(e.g., control messages 137) to the storage device 105.

FIG. 11 shows a storage product configured on a printed circuit boardaccording to one embodiment.

For example, the storage product 102 of FIG. 4 and/or FIG. 9 can beimplemented in a way illustrated in FIG. 11 with a message dispatchingtechnique illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8 . The storage product 102 ofFIG. 11 can be connected to a local host system 120 to process messagesusing a storage application 215 as in FIG. 6 , FIG. 7 , and/or FIG. 8 .

Similar to FIG. 10 , the storage product 102 in FIG. 11 has a bus switch251 connecting a bus connector 104, a processing device 107, a networkinterface 113, a random-access memory 101, and a storage device 105.

In FIG. 11 , the storage product 102 can be configured in the form of anexpansion card built on a printed circuit board 108. A portion of theprinted circuit board 108 can be configured as the bus connector 104.The bus connector 104 can be inserted into an expansion slot on acomputer bus 125 for connection to a local host system 120.

In FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 , the connection 255 from the bus switch 251 canbe connected to the computer bus 125 via the bus connector 104. In someimplementations, the computer bus 125 and the connections 252, 253, 257,258 and 259 to the bus switch 251 use different protocols; and a hostinterface 112 can be connected between the bus connector 104 and the busswitch 251 to perform protocol conversion.

In FIG. 11 , the memory sub-system 110 has a processing device 107 thatis separate from the network interface 113. The processing device 107and the network interface 113 can communicate with each other over thebus switch 251 to process packets to generate messages (e.g., controlmessages 133 and data messages 135) and to transmit messages (e.g.,response messages 155).

In FIG. 11 , the processing device 107 (e.g., a processor or controller)can be programmed to perform operations independent of the local hostsystem 120. The processing device 107 is configured to identify messages205 according to the message selection configuration 201 and place themessages 205 in the random-access memory 101 for processing by the localhost system 120. After the local host system 120 places its outputmessages 209 in the random-access memory 101, the processing device 107is further configured to forward the messages 209 to the storage device105. Thus, the control and access by the local host system 120 can belimited to the random-access memory 101 and the message selectionconfiguration 201.

In some implementations, the processing device 107 and the networkinterface 113 have a direct communication connection 252 not accessibleto other components of the storage product 102 as in FIG. 10 . In suchimplementations, the processing device 107 can be considered part of thenetwork interface 113.

In FIG. 11 , the bus switch 251 can provide multiple channels forcommunications among the components of the memory sub-system 110 and thelocal host system 120.

For example, when the bus switch 251 joins the connections 252 and 253to connect the network interface 113 with the processing device 107 toreceive storage access messages 151 or transmit response messages 226and 228, the bus switch 251 can join connection 255 to the connection257 to the random-access memory 101, or the connection 259 to the localstorage device 105, for the local host system 120 to access the message205 selected for processing by the local host system 120, or for thelocal host system 120 to provide the storage product 102 with itsgenerated messages 209.

For example, when the bus switch 251 joins the connections 252 and 253,the bus switch 251 can also join the connections 259 and 257 to allowthe local storage device 105 to retrieve the messages 209 generated inthe random-access memory 101 by the local host system 120 and/or tobuffer the response messages 227 into the random-access memory 101 forprocessing by the local host system 120.

For example, when the bus switch 251 joins the connections 253 and 257for the processing device 107 to buffer messages 205 into, or retrievemessages 228 from, the random-access memory 101, the bus switch 251 canjoin the connections 255 and 259 to allow the local host system 120 toaccess the local storage device 105.

For example, when the bus switch 251 joins the connections 253 and 259for the processing device 107 to communicate with the local storagedevice 105 directly, the bus switch 251 can also join the connections255 and 257 for the local host system 120 to access the random-accessmemory 101.

Optionally, the printed circuit board 108 also has a casing or housing170 configured to substantially enclose the components of the memorysub-system 110 to prevent tampering.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 illustrate examples of one storage device 105 beingconnected to the bus switch 251 of the memory sub-system 110.Optionally, multiple storage devices 105 are configured in the memorysub-system 110 to operate in parallel to match the bandwidth of thenetwork interface 113.

FIG. 12 shows a method to route messages for processing by a storageproduct and a local host system external to the storage productaccording to one embodiment.

For example, the method of FIG. 12 can be performed by a storage managerconfigured in a memory sub-system 110 of a storage product 102 and/or alocal host system 120 of FIG. 4 , FIG. 9 , FIG. 10 and/or FIG. 11 tohave different processing paths illustrated in FIG. 2 using techniquesof FIG. 5 and FIG. 8 . For example, a storage manager in the memorysub-system 110 can be implemented to perform operations discussed inconnection with the memory sub-system 110; and the storage manager canbe implemented via a logic circuit and/or a processing device 117 of thememory sub-system controller 115, and/or instructions programmed to beexecuted by the processing device 117. For example, a storage manager(e.g., storage application 215) in the local host system 120 can beimplemented to perform operations discussed in connection with the localhost system 120; and the storage manager can be implemented via a logiccircuit and/or a processing device 118 of the host system 120, and/orinstructions programmed to be executed by the processing device 118.

At block 261, a network interface 113 of a storage product 102 receivesincoming packets 202 from a computer network 114. The storage product102 is manufactured as a standalone computer component to be assembledinto a computing device containing a computer bus 125 connected to aprocessor (e.g., a microprocessor, a processing device 118).

For example, the storage product 102 can have a bus switch 251, anetwork interface 113, a random-access memory 101, a processing device107, and a storage device 105. The bus switch 251 is connected to therandom-access memory 101, the processing device 107, the storage device105, and/or the network interface 113. In some implementations, thenetwork interface 113 and the processing device 107 have separateconnections 252 and 253 to the bus switch 251, as in FIG. 11 . In otherimplementations, the network interface 113 has an exclusive connection252 to the processing device 107 which is connected to the bus switch251 via a connection 253, as in FIG. 10 .

The storage device 105 has a local memory 119 and having a storagecapacity 143 accessible via a network storage service over the networkinterface 113.

At block 263, a processing device 107 of the storage product 102converts the incoming packets 202 into first messages 205 and secondmessages 207 to access a storage capacity 143 of the storage device 105via network storage services over the network interface 113. The storageproduct 102 has a random-access memory 101 and a storage device 105.

The processing device 107 can communicate with the network interface113, via the bus switch 251 or via a separate connection 252, to convertthe incoming packets 202 into storage access messages 151, includingfirst messages 205 and second messages 207 to access the storagecapacity 143.

In some implementations, the first messages 205 are predefined ascontrol messages 133; the second messages 135 are predefined as datamessages 135; and the processing device 107 is pre-configured toseparate the control messages 133 and the data messages 135 forprocessing by the external processor and the storage device 105respectively.

In other implementations, a message selection configuration 201 isstored in the storage product 102 to configure the separation of thefirst messages 205 from the second messages 207 as illustrated in FIG. 5. For example, host selection criteria 217 can be specified in themessage selection configuration 201 to select/identify first messages205 for processing by the external processor; and local selectioncriteria 219 can be used to select/identify second messages 207 forprocessing by the local storage device 105.

At block 265, a bus switch 251 of the storage product 102 connects theprocessing device 107 to the random-access memory 101 to provide a firstfunctioning bus between the processing device 107 and the random-accessmemory 101.

For example, the bus switch 251 can join the connection 253 to theprocessing device 107 and the connection 257 to the random-access memory101 to provide the first functioning bus in response to the processingdevice 107 communicating with the random-access memory 101.

At block 267, the processing device 107 buffers the first messages 205into the random-access memory 101 using the first functioning busprovided via the bus switch 251.

The first messages 205 buffered in the random-access memory 101 can beretrieved and processed by the external processor, such as the localhost system 120 running a storage application 215.

At block 269, the bus switch 251 connects the processing device 107 andthe storage device 105 to provide a second functioning bus between theprocessing device 107 and the storage device 105.

For example, the bus switch 251 can join the connection 253 to theprocessing device 107 and the connection 259 to the storage device 105to provide the second functioning bus in response to the processingdevice 107 communicating with the storage device 105. To provide thesecond functioning bus, the connection 257 to the random-access memory101 is disconnected from the connection 253 to the processing device107; and thus the first functioning bus is dismembered to provide thesecond functioning bus. Similarly, the bus switch 251 dismembers thesecond functioning bus to provide the first functioning bus.

At block 271, the processing device 107 buffers the second messages 207into a local memory 119 of the storage device 105 using the secondfunctioning bus.

The storage device 105 can schedule and execute commands in the secondmessages 207 buffered in the local memory 119 without assistance fromoutside of the storage device 105.

At block 273, the bus switch 251 connects the random-access memory 101to the computer bus 125 to provide a third functioning bus between therandom-access memory 101 and the processor (e.g., a microprocessor, thelocal host system 120, the processing device 118) external to thestorage product 102, in response to the processor retrieving the firstmessages 205 from the random-access memory 101.

For example, the bus switch 251 can join the connection 255 to thecomputer bus 125 and the connection 257 to the random-access memory 101to provide the third functioning bus in response to the externalprocessor communicating with the random-access memory 101. To providethe third functioning bus, the connection 253 to the processing device107 is disconnected from the connection 257 to the random-access memory101; and thus the first functioning bus is dismembered to provide thethird functioning bus. Similarly, the bus switch 251 dismembers thethird functioning bus to provide the first functioning bus.

Optionally, the bus switch 251 is operable to provide simultaneously thesecond functioning bus between the processing device 107 and the storagedevice 105 and the third functioning bus between the random-accessmemory 101 and the external processor connected to the computer bus 125.

In some implementations, the bus switch 251 can join the connection 259to the storage device 105 and the connection 255 to the computer bus 125to provide a fourth functioning bus between the storage device 105 andthe external processor connected to the computer bus 125, in response tothe processor communicating with the storage device 105. To provide thefourth functioning bus, the bus switch 251 dismembers the secondfunctioning bus and the third functioning bus, but can optionallyprovide the first functioning bus between the processing device 107 andthe random-access memory 101 at the same time.

After the local host system 120, as the external processor, retrievesthe first messages 205 for processing and generates third messages 209,the local host system 120 can use the fourth functioning bus to bufferthe third messages 209 into the local memory 119 of the storage device105.

Optionally, the bus switch 251 is operable to provide simultaneously thefourth functioning bus between the storage device 105 and the externalprocessor/local host system 120 and the first functioning bus betweenthe processing device 107 and the random-access memory 101 at a sametime.

The storage device 105 can be configured to: generate, responsive to thethird messages 209, third response messages 227; generate, responsive tothe second messages 207, second response messages 226; and buffer thesecond response messages 226 and the third response messages 227 in thelocal memory 119. For example, separate queues can be configured for thesecond response messages 226 and the third response messages 227; andthe processing device 107 and the external processor are configured toaccess the respective queues.

For example, the external processor is configured to retrieve the thirdresponse messages 227 from first queues in the local memory 119 of thestorage device 105 using the fourth functioning bus between the storagedevice 105 and the external processor connected to the computer bus 125.Based on the third response messages 227, the external processor isconfigured to generate, responsive to the first messages 205, firstresponse messages 228 and buffers the first response messages 228 intothe random-access memory 101 using the third functioning bus between therandom-access memory 101 and the external processor.

The processing device 107 is configured to retrieve the first responsemessages 228 from the random-access memory 101 using the firstfunctioning bus between the processing device 107 and the random-accessmemory 101. The processing device 107 is configured to retrieve thesecond response messages 226 from second queues in the local memory 119of the storage device 105 using the second functioning bus between theprocessing device 107 and the storage device 105. The processing device107 can use the network interface 113 to transmit the first responsemessages 228 and the second response messages 226 without the secondresponse messages 226 going through the computer bus 125.

Alternatively, the fourth functioning bus is not provided; and the busswitch 251 can prevent direct communications between the externalprocessor/local host system 120 and the storage device 105. After theexternal processor generates the third messages 209 responsive to thefirst messages 205, the external processor can buffer the third messages209 into the random-access memory 101 using the third functioning busbetween the random-access memory 101 and the processor. The processingdevice 107 is configured to: retrieve the third messages 207 from therandom-access memory 101 using the first functioning bus between theprocessing device 107 and the random-access memory 101; and buffer theretrieved third messages 209 into the local memory 119 of the storagedevice 105 using the second functioning bus between the processingdevice 107 and the storage device 105.

Alternatively, the bus switch 251 can join the connection 257 to therandom-access memory 101 and the connection 259 to the storage device105 to provide a further functioning bus between the random-accessmemory 101 and the storage device 105. Using the further functioningbus, the storage device 105 can retrieve the third messages 209 from therandom-access memory 101 and buffers the retrieved third messages 209into its local memory 119 without assistance from the processing device107.

In one implementation, the storage device 105 can generate, responsiveto the third messages 209 and the second messages 207 buffered in itslocal memory 119, response messages 225. The processing device 107 canuse the second functioning bus to retrieve the response messages fromthe storage device 105 for separation according to the message selectionconfiguration 201. According to the message selection configuration 201,the processing device 107 separates third response messages 227 fromsecond response messages 226 and provides the third response messages227 for processing by the external processor connected to the computerbus 125, but not providing the second response messages 226 to theexternal processor.

For example, the processing device 107 can be configured to: retrievethe response messages 225 from the local memory 119 of the storagedevice 105 using the second functioning bus between the processingdevice 107 and the storage device 105; identify, from the responsemessages 225, second response messages 226 according to the localselection criteria 219 and third response messages 227 according to thehost selection criteria 217; buffer the third response messages 227 inthe random-access memory 101 using the first functioning bus between theprocessing device 107 and the random-access memory 101; and transmit,using the network interface 113, the second response messages 226without buffering the second response messages 226 in the random-accessmemory 101 and/or without providing the second response messages 226 tothe external processor.

In response to the third response messages 227 being buffered in therandom-access memory 101, the external processor connected to thecomputer bus 125 can be configured to: retrieve the third responsemessages 227 from the random-access memory 101 using the thirdfunctioning bus between the random-access memory 101 and the processor;generate, responsive to the first messages 205 and based on the thirdresponse messages 227, first response messages 228; and buffer the firstresponse messages 228 into the random-access memory 101 using the thirdfunctioning bus between the random-access memory 101 and the externalprocessor connected to the computer bus 125.

Alternatively, when the bus switch 251 can join the connection 257 tothe random-access memory 101 and the connection 259 to the storagedevice 105 to provide the further functioning bus between therandom-access memory 101 and the storage device 105, the storage device105 can buffer the third response messages 227, responsive to the thirdmessages 209, into the random-access memory 101 without assistance fromthe processing device 107. The second response messages 226 can bebuffered in the local memory 119 or the random-access memory 101 foraccess by the processing device 107.

In response to the first response messages 228 being buffered in therandom-access memory 101, the processing device 107 can be configured toretrieve the first response messages 228 from the random-access memory101 using the first functioning bus between the processing device 107and the random-access memory 101. The processing device 107 can use thenetwork interface 113 to transmit the retrieved first response messages228.

In general, a memory sub-system 110 can be a storage device, a memorymodule, or a hybrid of a storage device and memory module. Examples of astorage device include a solid-state drive (SSD), a flash drive, auniversal serial bus (USB) flash drive, an embedded multi-mediacontroller (eMMC) drive, a universal flash storage (UFS) drive, a securedigital (SD) card, and a hard disk drive (HDD). Examples of memorymodules include a dual in-line memory module (DIMM), a small outlineDIMM (SO-DIMM), and various types of non-volatile dual in-line memorymodule (NVDIMM).

The computing system 100 can be a computing device such as a desktopcomputer, a laptop computer, a network server, a mobile device, aportion of a vehicle (e.g., airplane, drone, train, automobile, or otherconveyance), an internet of things (IoT) enabled device, an embeddedcomputer (e.g., one included in a vehicle, industrial equipment, or anetworked commercial device), or such a computing device that includesmemory and a processing device.

The computing system 100 can include a host system 120 that is coupledto one or more memory sub-systems 110. FIG. 1 illustrates one example ofa host system 120 coupled to one memory sub-system 110. As used herein,“coupled to” or “coupled with” generally refers to a connection betweencomponents, which can be an indirect communicative connection or directcommunicative connection (e.g., without intervening components), whetherwired or wireless, including connections such as electrical, optical,magnetic, etc.

For example, the host system 120 can include a processor chipset (e.g.,processing device 118) and a software stack executed by the processorchipset. The processor chipset can include one or more cores, one ormore caches, a memory controller (e.g., controller 116) (e.g., NVDIMMcontroller), and a storage protocol controller (e.g., PCIe controller,SATA controller). The host system 120 uses the memory sub-system 110,for example, to write data to the memory sub-system 110 and read datafrom the memory sub-system 110.

The host system 120 can be coupled to the memory sub-system 110 via aphysical host interface. Examples of a physical host interface include,but are not limited to, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)interface, a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe) interface,a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a fibre channel, a serialattached SCSI (SAS) interface, a double data rate (DDR) memory businterface, a small computer system interface (SCSI), a dual in-linememory module (DIMM) interface (e.g., DIMM socket interface thatsupports double data rate (DDR)), an open NAND flash interface (ONFI), adouble data rate (DDR) interface, a low power double data rate (LPDDR)interface, a compute express link (CXL) interface, or any otherinterface. The physical host interface can be used to transmit databetween the host system 120 and the memory sub-system 110. The hostsystem 120 can further utilize an NVM express (NVMe) interface to accesscomponents (e.g., memory devices 130) when the memory sub-system 110 iscoupled with the host system 120 by the PCIe interface. FIG. 1illustrates a memory sub-system 110 as an example. In general, the hostsystem 120 can access multiple memory sub-systems via a samecommunication connection, multiple separate communication connections,and/or a combination of communication connections.

The processing device 118 of the host system 120 can be, for example, amicroprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a processing core of aprocessor, an execution unit, etc. In some instances, the controller 116can be referred to as a memory controller, a memory management unit,and/or an initiator. In one example, the controller 116 controls thecommunications over a bus coupled between the host system 120 and thememory sub-system 110. In general, the controller 116 can send commandsor requests to the memory sub-system 110 for desired access to memorydevices 130, 140. The controller 116 can further include interfacecircuitry to communicate with the memory sub-system 110. The interfacecircuitry can convert responses received from the memory sub-system 110into information for the host system 120.

The controller 116 of the host system 120 can communicate with thecontroller 115 of the memory sub-system 110 to perform operations suchas reading data, writing data, or erasing data at the memory devices130, 140 and other such operations. In some instances, the controller116 is integrated within the same package of the processing device 118.In other instances, the controller 116 is separate from the package ofthe processing device 118. The controller 116 and/or the processingdevice 118 can include hardware such as one or more integrated circuits(ICs) and/or discrete components, a buffer memory, a cache memory, or acombination thereof. The controller 116 and/or the processing device 118can be a microcontroller, special-purpose logic circuitry (e.g., a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), etc.), or another suitable processor.

The memory devices 130, 140 can include any combination of the differenttypes of non-volatile memory components and/or volatile memorycomponents. The volatile memory devices (e.g., memory device 140) canbe, but are not limited to, random-access memory (RAM), such as dynamicrandom-access memory (DRAM) and synchronous dynamic random-access memory(SDRAM).

Some examples of non-volatile memory components include a negative-and(or, NOT AND) (NAND) type flash memory and write-in-place memory, suchas three-dimensional cross-point (“3D cross-point”) memory. Across-point array of non-volatile memory can perform bit storage basedon a change of bulk resistance, in conjunction with a stackablecross-gridded data access array. Additionally, in contrast to manyflash-based memories, cross-point non-volatile memory can perform awrite in-place operation, where a non-volatile memory cell can beprogrammed without the non-volatile memory cell being previously erased.NAND type flash memory includes, for example, two-dimensional NAND (2DNAND) and three-dimensional NAND (3D NAND).

Each of the memory devices 130 can include one or more arrays of memorycells. One type of memory cell, for example, single level cells (SLC)can store one bit per cell. Other types of memory cells, such asmulti-level cells (MLCs), triple level cells (TLCs), quad-level cells(QLCs), and penta-level cells (PLCs) can store multiple bits per cell.In some embodiments, each of the memory devices 130 can include one ormore arrays of memory cells such as SLCs, MLCs, TLCs, QLCs, PLCs, or anycombination of such. In some embodiments, a particular memory device caninclude an SLC portion, an MLC portion, a TLC portion, a QLC portion,and/or a PLC portion of memory cells. The memory cells of the memorydevices 130 can be grouped as pages that can refer to a logical unit ofthe memory device used to store data. With some types of memory (e.g.,NAND), pages can be grouped to form blocks.

Although non-volatile memory devices such as 3D cross-point type andNAND type memory (e.g., 2D NAND, 3D NAND) are described, the memorydevice 130 can be based on any other type of non-volatile memory, suchas read-only memory (ROM), phase change memory (PCM), self-selectingmemory, other chalcogenide based memories, ferroelectric transistorrandom-access memory (FeTRAM), ferroelectric random-access memory(FeRAM), magneto random-access memory (MRAM), spin transfer torque(STT)-MRAM, conductive bridging RAM (CBRAM), resistive random-accessmemory (RRAM), oxide based RRAM (OxRAM), negative-or (NOR) flash memory,and electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).

A memory sub-system controller 115 (or controller 115 for simplicity)can communicate with the memory devices 130 to perform operations suchas reading data, writing data, or erasing data at the memory devices 130and other such operations (e.g., in response to commands scheduled on acommand bus by controller 116). The controller 115 can include hardwaresuch as one or more integrated circuits (ICs) and/or discretecomponents, a buffer memory, or a combination thereof. The hardware caninclude digital circuitry with dedicated (i.e., hard-coded) logic toperform the operations described herein. The controller 115 can be amicrocontroller, special-purpose logic circuitry (e.g., a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), etc.), or another suitable processor.

The controller 115 can include a processing device 117 (processor)configured to execute instructions stored in a local memory 119. In theillustrated example, the local memory 119 of the controller 115 includesan embedded memory configured to store instructions for performingvarious processes, operations, logic flows, and routines that controloperation of the memory sub-system 110, including handlingcommunications between the memory sub-system 110 and the host system120.

In some embodiments, the local memory 119 can include memory registersstoring memory pointers, fetched data, etc. The local memory 119 canalso include read-only memory (ROM) for storing micro-code. While theexample memory sub-system 110 in FIG. 1 has been illustrated asincluding the controller 115, in another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a memory sub-system 110 does not include a controller 115,and can instead rely upon external control (e.g., provided by anexternal host, or by a processor or controller separate from the memorysub-system).

In general, the controller 115 can receive commands or operations fromthe host system 120 and can convert the commands or operations intoinstructions or appropriate commands to achieve the desired access tothe memory devices 130. The controller 115 can be responsible for otheroperations such as wear leveling operations, garbage collectionoperations, error detection and error-correcting code (ECC) operations,encryption operations, caching operations, and address translationsbetween a logical address (e.g., logical block address (LBA), namespace)and a physical address (e.g., physical block address) that areassociated with the memory devices 130. The controller 115 can furtherinclude host interface circuitry to communicate with the host system 120via the physical host interface. The host interface circuitry canconvert the commands received from the host system into commandinstructions to access the memory devices 130 as well as convertresponses associated with the memory devices 130 into information forthe host system 120.

The memory sub-system 110 can also include additional circuitry orcomponents that are not illustrated. In some embodiments, the memorysub-system 110 can include a cache or buffer (e.g., DRAM) and addresscircuitry (e.g., a row decoder and a column decoder) that can receive anaddress from the controller 115 and decode the address to access thememory devices 130.

In some embodiments, the memory devices 130 include local mediacontrollers 150 that operate in conjunction with the memory sub-systemcontroller 115 to execute operations on one or more memory cells of thememory devices 130. An external controller (e.g., memory sub-systemcontroller 115) can externally manage the memory device 130 (e.g.,perform media management operations on the memory device 130). In someembodiments, a memory device 130 is a managed memory device, which is araw memory device combined with a local controller (e.g., local mediacontroller 150) for media management within the same memory devicepackage. An example of a managed memory device is a managed NAND (MNAND)device.

The controller 115 and/or a memory device 130 can include a storagemanager configured to implement the functions discussed above. In someembodiments, the controller 115 in the memory sub-system 110 includes atleast a portion of the storage manager. In other embodiments, or incombination, the controller 116 and/or the processing device 118 in thehost system 120 includes at least a portion of the storage manager. Forexample, the controller 115, the controller 116, and/or the processingdevice 118 can include logic circuitry implementing the storage manager.For example, the controller 115, or the processing device 118(processor) of the host system 120, can be configured to executeinstructions stored in memory for performing the operations of thestorage manager described herein. In some embodiments, the storagemanager is implemented in an integrated circuit chip disposed in thememory sub-system 110. In other embodiments, the storage manager can bepart of firmware of the memory sub-system 110, an operating system ofthe host system 120, a device driver, or an application, or anycombination thereof.

In one embodiment, an example machine of a computer system within whicha set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one ormore of the methodologies discussed herein, can be executed. In someembodiments, the computer system can correspond to a host system (e.g.,the host system 120 of FIG. 1 ) that includes, is coupled to, orutilizes a memory sub-system (e.g., the memory sub-system 110 of FIG. 1) or can be used to perform the operations of a storage manager (e.g.,to execute instructions to perform operations corresponding tooperations described with reference to FIG. 1 -FIG. 12 ). In alternativeembodiments, the machine can be connected (e.g., networked) to othermachines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, and/or the Internet. Themachine can operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine inclient-server network environment, as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment, or as a server or a client machinein a cloud computing infrastructure or environment.

The machine can be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box(STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a webappliance, a server, a network router, a switch or bridge, anetwork-attached storage facility, or any machine capable of executing aset of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to betaken by that machine. Further, while a single machine is illustrated,the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection ofmachines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets)of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

The example computer system includes a processing device, a main memory(e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random-accessmemory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) or Rambus DRAM (RDRAM),static random-access memory (SRAM), etc.), and a data storage system,which communicate with each other via a bus (which can include multiplebuses).

Processing device represents one or more general-purpose processingdevices such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit, or thelike. More particularly, the processing device can be a complexinstruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, reduced instruction setcomputing (RISC) microprocessor, very long instruction word (VLIW)microprocessor, or a processor implementing other instruction sets, orprocessors implementing a combination of instruction sets. Processingdevice can also be one or more special-purpose processing devices suchas an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP),network processor, or the like. The processing device is configured toexecute instructions for performing the operations and steps discussedherein. The computer system can further include a network interfacedevice to communicate over the network.

The data storage system can include a machine-readable medium (alsoknown as a computer-readable medium) on which is stored one or more setsof instructions or software embodying any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. The instructions can alsoreside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory and/orwithin the processing device during execution thereof by the computersystem, the main memory and the processing device also constitutingmachine-readable storage media. The machine-readable medium, datastorage system, and/or main memory can correspond to the memorysub-system 110 of FIG. 1 .

In one embodiment, the instructions include instructions to implementfunctionality corresponding to a storage manager (e.g., the operationsdescribed with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 12 ). While themachine-readable medium is shown in an example embodiment to be a singlemedium, the term “machine-readable storage medium” should be taken toinclude a single medium or multiple media that store the one or moresets of instructions. The term “machine-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing orencoding a set of instructions for execution by the machine and thatcause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of thepresent disclosure. The term “machine-readable storage medium” shallaccordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-statememories, optical media, and magnetic media.

Some portions of the preceding detailed descriptions have been presentedin terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations ondata bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions andrepresentations are the ways used by those skilled in the dataprocessing arts to convey the substance of their work most effectivelyto others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally,conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of operations leading to adesired result. The operations are those requiring physicalmanipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily,these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capableof being stored, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It hasproven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, torefer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters,terms, numbers, or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. The presentdisclosure can refer to the action and processes of a computer system,or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transformsdata represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computersystem's registers and memories into other data similarly represented asphysical quantities within the computer system memories or registers orother such information storage systems.

The present disclosure also relates to an apparatus for performing theoperations herein. This apparatus can be specially constructed for theintended purposes, or it can include a general-purpose computerselectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored inthe computer. Such a computer program can be stored in a computerreadable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of diskincluding floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magnetic-opticaldisks, read-only memories (ROMs), random-access memories (RAMs), EPROMs,EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable forstoring electronic instructions, each coupled to a computer system bus.

The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently relatedto any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purposesystems can be used with programs in accordance with the teachingsherein, or it can prove convenient to construct a more specializedapparatus to perform the method. The structure for a variety of thesesystems will appear as set forth in the description below. In addition,the present disclosure is not described with reference to any particularprogramming language. It will be appreciated that a variety ofprogramming languages can be used to implement the teachings of thedisclosure as described herein.

The present disclosure can be provided as a computer program product, orsoftware, that can include a machine-readable medium having storedthereon instructions, which can be used to program a computer system (orother electronic devices) to perform a process according to the presentdisclosure. A machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storinginformation in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). In someembodiments, a machine-readable (e.g., computer-readable) mediumincludes a machine (e.g., a computer) readable storage medium such as aread only memory (“ROM”), random-access memory (“RAM”), magnetic diskstorage media, optical storage media, flash memory components, etc.

In this description, various functions and operations are described asbeing performed by or caused by computer instructions to simplifydescription. However, those skilled in the art will recognize what ismeant by such expressions is that the functions result from execution ofthe computer instructions by one or more controllers or processors, suchas a microprocessor. Alternatively, or in combination, the functions andoperations can be implemented using special-purpose circuitry, with orwithout software instructions, such as using application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) or field-programmable gate array (FPGA).Embodiments can be implemented using hardwired circuitry withoutsoftware instructions, or in combination with software instructions.Thus, the techniques are limited neither to any specific combination ofhardware circuitry and software, nor to any particular source for theinstructions executed by the data processing system.

In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the disclosure have beendescribed with reference to specific example embodiments thereof. Itwill be evident that various modifications can be made thereto withoutdeparting from the broader spirit and scope of embodiments of thedisclosure as set forth in the following claims. The specification anddrawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative senserather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage product, comprising: a bus switch; anetwork interface configured to receive incoming packets from a computernetwork; a random-access memory connected to the bus switch; aprocessing device connected to the bus switch; a storage deviceconnected to the bus switch, the storage device having a local memoryand having a storage capacity accessible via a network storage serviceover the network interface; wherein the storage product is adapted to beconnected to a computer bus external to the storage product; wherein theprocessing device is configured to convert the incoming packets intofirst messages and second messages to access the storage capacity; andwherein the bus switch is configured to: connect the processing deviceand the random-access memory to provide a first functioning bus betweenthe processing device and the random-access memory, in response to theprocessing device buffering the first messages into the random-accessmemory; connect the processing device and the storage device to providea second functioning bus between the processing device and the storagedevice, in response to the processing device buffering the secondmessages into the local memory of the storage device; and connect therandom-access memory to the computer bus to provide a third functioningbus between the random-access memory and a processor external to thestorage product, in response to the processor retrieving the firstmessages from the random-access memory.
 2. The storage product of claim1, wherein the storage product is manufactured as a standalone computercomponent to be installed into a computing device containing the storageproduct, the computer bus, and the processor; and wherein the bus switchis operable to provide simultaneously the second functioning bus betweenthe processing device and the storage device and the third functioningbus between the random-access memory and the processor.
 3. The storageproduct of claim 2, wherein the bus switch is further configured toconnect the storage device to the computer bus to provide a fourthfunctioning bus between the storage device and the processor, inresponse to the processor buffering third messages into the local memoryof the storage device.
 4. The storage product of claim 3, wherein thebus switch is operable to provide simultaneously the fourth functioningbus between the storage device and the processor and the firstfunctioning bus between the processing device and the random-accessmemory at a same time.
 5. The storage product of claim 4, wherein thestorage device is configured to: generate, responsive to the thirdmessages, third response messages; generate, responsive to the secondmessages, second response messages; and buffer the second responsemessages and the third response messages in the local memory; whereinthe processor is configured to retrieve the third response messages fromthe local memory of the storage device using the fourth functioning busbetween the storage device and the processor; and wherein the processingdevice is configured to retrieve the second response messages from thelocal memory of the storage device using the second functioning busbetween the processing device and the storage device, and use thenetwork interface to transmit the second response messages.
 6. Thestorage product of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured togenerate, responsive to the first messages and based on the thirdresponse messages, first response messages, and buffer the firstresponse messages into the random-access memory using the thirdfunctioning bus between the random-access memory and the processor; andthe processing device is configured to retrieve the first responsemessages from the random-access memory using the first functioning busbetween the processing device and the random-access memory and use thenetwork interface to transmit the first response messages.
 7. Thestorage product of claim 2, wherein after the processor buffers thirdmessages into the random-access memory using the third functioning busbetween the random-access memory and the processor, the processingdevice is configured to: retrieve the third messages from therandom-access memory using the first functioning bus between theprocessing device and the random-access memory; and buffer the thirdmessages into the local memory of the storage device using the secondfunctioning bus between the processing device and the storage device. 8.The storage product of claim 7, wherein the storage device is configuredto: generate, responsive to the third messages and the second messages,response messages; buffer the response messages in the local memory;wherein the processing device is configured to: retrieve the responsemessages from the local memory of the storage device using the secondfunctioning bus between the processing device and the storage device;identify, from the response messages, second response messages and thirdresponse messages; buffer the third response messages in therandom-access memory using the first functioning bus between theprocessing device and the random-access memory; and transmit, using thenetwork interface, the second response messages without buffering thesecond response messages in the random-access memory.
 9. The storageproduct of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to: retrieve thethird response messages from the random-access memory using the thirdfunctioning bus between the random-access memory and the processor;generate, responsive to the first messages and based on the thirdresponse messages, first response messages; and buffer the firstresponse messages into the random-access memory using the thirdfunctioning bus between the random-access memory and the processor;wherein the processing device is configured to retrieve the firstresponse messages from the random-access memory using the firstfunctioning bus between the processing device and the random-accessmemory and use the network interface to transmit the first responsemessages.
 10. A method, comprising: receiving, in a network interface ofa storage product manufactured as a standalone computer component to beassembled into a computing device containing a computer bus connected toa processor, incoming packets from a computer network; converting, by aprocessing device of the storage product having a random-access memoryand a storage device, the incoming packets into first messages andsecond messages to access a storage capacity of the storage device vianetwork storage services over the network interface; connecting, by abus switch of the storage product, the processing device to therandom-access memory to provide a first functioning bus between theprocessing device and the random-access memory; buffering, by theprocessing device, the first messages into the random-access memory;connecting, by the bus switch, the processing device and the storagedevice to provide a second functioning bus between the processing deviceand the storage device; buffering, by the processing device, the secondmessages into a local memory of the storage device; and connecting, bythe bus switch, the random-access memory to the computer bus to providea third functioning bus between the random-access memory and theprocessor external to the storage product, in response to the processorretrieving the first messages from the random-access memory.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the second functioning bus between theprocessing device and the storage device and the third functioning busbetween the random-access memory and the processor are providedconcurrently during a time period of the processing device communicatingwith the storage device and the processor communicating with therandom-access memory.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:connecting, by the bus switch, the storage device to the computer bus toprovide a fourth functioning bus between the storage device and theprocessor, in response to the processor buffering third messages intothe local memory of the storage device; wherein the fourth functioningbus between the storage device and the processor and the firstfunctioning bus between the processing device and the random-accessmemory are provided concurrently during a time period of the processorcommunicating with the storage device and the processing devicecommunicating with the random-access memory.
 13. The method of claim 12,further comprising: generating, by the storage device responsive to thethird messages, third response messages; generating, by the storagedevice responsive to the second messages, second response messages;buffering, by the storage device, the second response messages and thethird response messages in the local memory; providing, by the busswitch, the fourth functioning bus between the storage device and theprocessor in response to the processor retrieving the third responsemessages from the local memory of the storage device; providing, by thebus switch, the second functioning bus between the processing device andthe storage device in response to the processing device retrieving thesecond response messages from the local memory of the storage device;providing, by the bus switch, the third functioning bus between therandom-access memory and the processor in response to the processorbuffering first response messages, generated base on the third responsemessages; providing, by the bus switch, the first functioning busbetween the processing device and the random-access memory in responseto the processing device retrieving the first response messages from therandom-access memory; and transmit, by the processing device using thenetwork interface, the first response messages and the second responsemessages.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing, bythe bus switch, the third functioning bus between the random-accessmemory and the processor, in response to the processor buffering thirdmessages into the random-access memory; and providing, by the busswitch, the further functioning bus between the storage device and therandom-access memory in response to the storage device retrieving thethird messages from the random-access memory.
 15. The method of claim11, further comprising: providing, by the bus switch, the thirdfunctioning bus between the random-access memory and the processor, inresponse to the processor buffering third messages into therandom-access memory; providing, by the bus switch, the firstfunctioning bus between the processing device and the random-accessmemory in response to the processing device retrieving the thirdmessages from the random-access memory; and providing, by the busswitch, the second functioning bus between the processing device and thestorage device in response to the processing device buffering the thirdmessages into the local memory of the storage device.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising: generating, by the storage deviceresponsive to the third messages and the second messages, responsemessages; buffering, by the storage device, the response messages in thelocal memory; providing, by the bus switch, the second functioning busbetween the processing device and the storage device in response to theprocessing device retrieving the response messages from the local memoryof the storage device; identifying, by the processing device from theresponse messages, second response messages and third response messages;providing, by the bus switch, the first functioning bus between theprocessing device and the random-access memory in response to theprocessing device buffering the third response messages in therandom-access memory; and transmitting, by the processing device usingthe network interface, the second response messages without providingthe second response messages to the processor via the random-accessmemory.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: providing, bythe bus switch, the third functioning bus between the random-accessmemory and the processor in response to the processor retrieving thethird response messages from the random-access memory; providing, by thebus switch, the third functioning bus between the random-access memoryand the processor in response to the processor buffering, into therandom-access memory, first response messages generated from the thirdresponse messages; retrieving, by the processing device, the firstresponse messages from the random-access memory using the firstfunctioning bus between the processing device the random-access memory;and transmitting, by the processing device using the network interface,the first response messages.
 18. A computing device, comprising: acomputer bus; a processor connected to the computer bus; and a storageproduct manufactured as a standalone computer component, the storageproduct comprising: a storage device having a local memory; a busconnector connected to the computer bus external to the storage product;a network interface configured to receive incoming packets from acomputer network to access a storage capacity of the storage device; arandom-access memory; a processing device; and a bus switch connected tothe bus connector, the random-access memory, the processing device, andthe storage device; wherein the bus switch is operable to: connect theprocessing device and the random-access memory to provide a firstfunctioning bus between the processing device and the random-accessmemory, in response to the processing device communicating with therandom-access memory; connect the processing device and the storagedevice to provide a second functioning bus between the processing deviceand the storage device, in response to the processing devicecommunicating with the storage device; and connect the random-accessmemory to the computer bus to provide a third functioning bus betweenthe random-access memory and the processor external to the storageproduct, in response to the processor communicating with therandom-access memory; wherein the processing device is configured to:convert the incoming packets into first messages and second messages toaccess the storage capacity; buffering the first messages into therandom-access memory using the first functioning bus; and buffering thesecond messages into the local memory in the storage device using thesecond functioning bus; wherein the processor is configured to: retrievethe first messages from the random-access memory using the thirdfunctioning bus; generate third messages from the first messages; andprovide the third messages to the storage device; and wherein thestorage device is configured to: process the third messages and thesecond messages to provide network storage services.
 19. The computingdevice of claim 18, wherein the bus switch is further configured toconnect the storage device to the computer bus to provide a fourthfunctioning bus between the storage device and the processor, inresponse to the processor communicating with the storage device; whereinthe processor is configured to buffer the third messages into the localmemory in the storage device using the fourth functioning busconcurrently with the processing device using the first functioning bus;and wherein the processor is configured to retrieve the first messagesfrom the random-access memory using the third functioning busconcurrently with the processing device using the second functioningbus.
 20. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the processor isconfigured to buffer the third messages into the random-access memoryusing the third functioning bus; and wherein the processing device isconfigured to retrieve the third messages from the random-access memoryusing the first functioning bus, and buffer the third messages into thelocal memory in the storage device.